Changing the local cable franchising process...

[Don A]

I know we've bounced around the pros/cons of this bill...and some members on 
the list had some strong felings about it.  I thought this recent letter to 
the editor in the Boston Herald covered some imporatnt points about some of 
the issues Verizon is trying to evade with the bill.

http://news.bostonherald.com/letters/view.bg?articleid=1009330&format=text

Wired for arrogance

Your editorial in favor of a bill to change the local cable franchising 
process implies that consumers suffer because telecommunications companies 
have a difficult time breaking into local markets ("House is hanging it up," 
July 2). But nothing prevents companies like Verizon from signing identical 
contracts that existing providers have already negotiated with cities and 
towns. Verizon does not want to adhere to consumer protections, like 
anti-redlining provisions that require the provider to offer service to 
everyone in town no matter their income demographic. This bill is the 
epitome of special interest legislation and should be rejected by the 
Legislature.