The FCC is about to grant AT&T what they have wanted: the ability to compete in the TV/Cable market. Will Shorewood be ready?
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USA Today, 12/1/2006 NEW YORK — Trying to spur competition and beat back cable TV prices, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin has proposed rules to make it easier for phone companies and others to jump into the video business.
The proposed order aims to streamline the video franchise approval process, FCC officials said.
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AT&T and Verizon are building advanced broadband networks so they can sell bundles of TV, voice, wireless and high-speed Internet services. But deployment of their video has been slow, in part because of the franchising process. There are thousands of local authorities, each with its own rules.
The proposed order would require the bodies to rule within 90 days on applications by phone companies and others with existing access to public rights-of-way. For others, it would be six months.
The order would also make it harder for localities to impose "unreasonable" requirements. In one case, the FCC says, a video provider was asked to build a recreation center and swimming pool. In another, a video applicant was asked to fork over $1 million and fund a $50,000 scholarship with annual contributions.
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