Facts

Massachusetts Cable Television Franchising Laws Work!
Ask Your Legislators to Oppose Verizon's Legislation in Massachusetts

FACT: The Massachusetts Cable Television Market Is Among the Most Competitive
Cable companies operate in 308 communities. Satellite companies serve all communities, have 25% of the market and are growing. RCN operates a second cable television system in 18 communities. According to public records, Verizon has signed more than 60 with others pending approval. Municipal Light Plants provide cable television services in Braintree , Norwood , Shrewsbury and Russell.

FACT: Cable Franchises Are Non-Exclusive – Any Provider Can Serve Any Community.
Since 1971, all cable franchises in the Commonwealth must be non-exclusive and since 1996 telephone companies like Verizon have had the authority to obtain cable television franchises. No change in the law is required and Verizon, or any entrant, is free to negotiate a cable license anywhere in the Commonwealth under current law. Verizon has successfully negotiated and signed 43 cable licenses and has applications pending in other eastern Massachusetts communities. Verizon can simply white-out an existing cable operators name on any cable franchise in the Commonwealth and replace it with Verizon and have a deal in short order.

FACT: The Official Record Of The DTE's Cable Division Shows That Municipalities Have Negotiated In Good Faith And Have Not Caused Any Delays.
On August 16, 2006 the Cable Division held a public hearing on Verizon's proposal to shorten municipal time frames. Verizon did not provide any evidence of municipal delays or abuse of the current cable franchising process in Massachusetts. Indeed, according to testimony by local officials at that hearing, any lengthy negotiations were due to Verizon, not municipalities.

FACT: Massachusetts Municipalities Unanimously Oppose A Change In The Law.
Every municipality in the Commonwealth is in favor of competition. However, cities and towns are opposed to changes that would remove local control and force them to review and approve an important municipal contract in an unreasonable time frame. A cable television license can last up to 15 years. The grant of such a license has significant public interest and infrastructure implications and should not be subject to an arbitrary time frame.

FACT: Cable Television Franchising Procedures Already Have Been Streamlined At Both The Massachusetts And Federal Level To Facilitate Entry By Verizon.
In 1996, The federal government changed the rules to allow Verizon and others to enter the cable TV market. Verizon has had the ability to be in the cable TV business for years, but chose not to until now. Additionally, federal law allows Verizon to build its FiOS plant before it receives a municipal cable license and the Cable Division has frequently amended its rules and regulations.

FACT: Verizon's Proposals to Change Current Cable Franchising Laws Benefit Only Verizon and are Unnecessary and Unsupportable on Legal, Factual and Policy Grounds.