Nolan Bowie Warns of Pending Legislation

Last week a committee of the Massachusetts Legislature held a hearing on a bill titled An Act Promoting Consumer Choice and Competition for Cable Service (Senate Bill, No. 1975), which seeks to expedite the process by which cable companies are approved for franchising and shift the decision to the state level, as opposed to the current moderators, the municipalities.

The bill's supporters, which include the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division, see it as an opportunity to increase competition, thereby allowing market forces to exert their influence, reducing cost of service and increasing quality.  Citing similar legislation in other states, they note reduced monthly payments by the consumer, for services they felt were superior.

The effort to provide the state with improved cable and broadband service may not be so clear cut as Berkman Fellow Nolan Bowie opined on the eve of the hearing.  He notes that some providers could seek the quick approval and focus their energy on the most highly profitable communities, neglecting portions of the state and without the stipulations that those communities were once able to negotiate. 

Cambridge Community Television (CCTV) adds that moving the process to the state level has the potential to jeopardize the affordability and availability of community programming.  Berkman's own Colin Rhinesmith, a member of the Board of Directors for CCTV, attended the hearing and reported the events on his blog.

For more information on many of the issues surrounding the digital divide from communities to the international stage you can view last year's Boston Wireless Task Force Report, as well as the most recent Global Information Technology Report from the World Economic Forum, with a chapter by Berkman Executive Director John Palfrey.

Image courtesy of RightIndex available through CC licensing.