WRAL alerted me today to upcoming changes in the state’s cable television laws. A bill entitled An Act to Promote Consumer Choice In Video Service Providers And To Establish Uniform Taxes For Video Programming, or short title “Video Service Competition Act” (House Bill 2047) would take away local franchising authority in favor of state oversight. Supporters claim this will enhance competition because Big Telcos like Bellsouth wouldn’t have to negotiate for each franchise.
I have mixed thoughts about this. In essence, what’s wrong with local franchising authorities? When your cable service is out and the lazy repairmen won’t fix it or charges appear on your cable bill that you didn’t authorize, the local franchising authority can be a powerful ally in getting the problem fixed. Does anyone really think the State of North Carolina is going to take these issues more seriously than the local government?
Generally, I’m in favor of pushing authority on issues out as locally as possible. Raleigh knows what’s best for Raleigh. Ditto Durham, Charlotte, and other places. You’ve got to have a really good reason before you consider taking that authority away. What reason, other than Bellsouth lobbied for it, is there to upset the apple cart? Why does Bellsouth not want to play by the rules that everyone else plays by?
The real reason this bill is being pushed by Bellsouth is that Big Telcos want satellite services like Dish Network and DirecTV taxed similarly to terrestrial services like DSL and cable television, even though satellite services don’t use any public right of way! That’s right: Hughes Electronics invested many millions in building and launching their satellites and uplink facilities. Millions of their own, private money. They don’t use public resources like rights-of-way. Why should DirecTV be taxed like a franchise if it’s not making money with public dirt like the cable and phone lines?
To me, this bill sounds like a giant win for the Big Telcos and a big blow for advocates of cable TV accoutability. I welcome comments from state legislators who wish to prove me wrong.