'Build Out' Rule Divides Lawmakers

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'BUILD OUT' RULE DIVIDES LAWMAKERS
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
One of touchiest disputes over a draft bill to create national video franchises is whether it would have a positive or negative impact on racial minorities and low-income groups. Bell telephone companies support House Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton's national video franchise without a "build out" rule, while the cable industry generally opposes it. Cable operators have been regulated by municipalities, which generally require commitments to build out video service to entire regions before franchise agreements are granted for those regions. But Republicans, and the Bells, have attempted to inoculate themselves against charges of discrimination by race or income. Build-out rules would kill the competition that national franchises would bring, they argue. They have the support of at least two black Democrats, Bobby Rush of Illinois and Albert Wynn of Maryland. And the draft telecom bill by Rep Barton includes several anti-discrimination provisions. Besides banning discrimination by race and income within an area, the measure calls for the FCC to yank national franchises from any company for "willful and repeated violation of the anti-discrimination requirement."
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-VIIU1144268641659.html


'Build Out' Rule Divides Lawmakers