California Committee OKs State Video-Franchise Bill

Telecomweb:

Another key California State Senate committee has approved a proposed statewide video-franchise measure, positioning the bill to be sent to the full body for a vote within two weeks or so.

Assembly Bill 2987 was given the green light yesterday by the California Senate Appropriations Committee in a 13-0 vote, following a 10-0 approval by the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee and a 9-0 approval by the Senate Policy Committee (both in late June) plus the full Assembly’s 77-0 passage of the bill in late May.

The proposed legislation being pushed since last year by the likes of AT&T and Verizon Communications - comparable to lobbying efforts in several state legislatures as well as in the U.S. Congress - would establish a streamlined franchise-certification process while making it easier for such new entrants as telcos with their Internet Protocol television (IPTV) offerings to enter the market.