Cable Choice

Election Results in Change but C4CC Still Hopeful for Consumer Issues

Tuesday's election has resulted in some monumental changes in governments from city halls to Congress. Pundits are again predicting the death of national cable competition legislation but we are not so quick to believe that a change in Congressional leadership will mean a less vigorous approach to key consumer issues. Cable choice falls in that category.  Our previous discussions with incoming Speaker Pelosi's office confirm this. We at C4CC will be taking stock of the new landscape but still hope for progress in the nation's capital.  In the meantime, we're heartened by discussion in Michigan where the state senate leader lists cable competition as a priority. And we point out the re-election of Governor Schwarzenegger. Could his support for cable competition have contributed to Californians returning him to office?

Consumers continue to want better prices and better service from their cable providers, and they continue to need the innovations and service expansion broadband deployment will bring. So we'll continue to work for those things. This is a time of significant change. With that change comes opportunity to again advocate the consumer agenda for cable reform.  We at C4CC will be leading the way, and we are grateful to have you as a partner

Bob and Jim

Profits Behind Hoarding Video Pie?

An article in The Hollywood Reporter spells out how the incredible money machine that is Google is poised to become an even more profitable venture with its acquisition of YouTube. The article makes it clear that the future of communication is video-based. It’s equally clear that the amount of money to be made through video-based services is astronomical.

As Google grows its ability to make money off video streaming, one has to wonder if the Internet Behemoth’s support of Net Neutrality – and willingness to sacrifice cable franchise reform that would enable more providers can more easily offer video service – is really just about keeping the video pie all to itself.

Fortunately, for consumers, this is a false dilemma. The cable reform bill in the U.S. Senate supports cable competition, while ensuring that any Net Neutrality issues can be addressed by the FCC if problems arise. Competition today and market protections tomorrow; that is a win/win for consumers.

C4CC's Position on Net Neutrality

For those of you who missed our response comment to a query about our Net Neutrality position:

We've been very clear that while we respect the concerns people have raised about net neutrality, we believe Step One is to remove the current barriers to entry that are slowing down the entry of competitive providers into the video market. There is great support for competitive cable choice and if considered on its own, we believe it will be enacted and consumer benefits will be swift in coming. With healthy competition in the marketplace, customers who are unhappy with their current provider can switch and hopefully find better service. Most American cable customers who are unhappy now with their cable providers can't switch -- unless its to switch their cable off altogether. They can, however, find another provider for every other communication service. Why should cable TV be any different?

The concerns raised by those seeking the addition of net neutrality provisions to the cable competition bill are complex and worthy of debate -- but there's plenty of time for that debate next year. The term "net neutrality" hasn't been defined yet, so how can it adequately be remedied?

As always, we welcome your questions and comments.  Please feel free to post them on the C4CC blog.

 

8 down; 42 to go

Media Post Publications recently quoted C4CC executive director Jim Conran on the passage of the California cable competition bill. While Jim was pleased that his home state embraced competition, he said he and the folks at C4CC are still working on the national bill.

He the House had passed a similar bill, but "politics" were holding the Senate from approving it. "There's a level of politics between different factions," he says. "A lot of the Democrats didn't want to give the Republicans an issue to campaign on this November."

He also said many senators are trying to tie Net Neutrality--which commits Internet service providers to providing equal access to all Web sites--to legislation that could relax rules for telecoms hoping to enter the cable television sweepstakes.

"We feel Net Neutrality is a totally separate issue," Conran adds. "But if we have to, there are 42 states to go, and we're going to push on through each of those states."

I'm with you, Jim! 8 down; 42 to go. Let's go get 'em!

Cable competition makes sense

James K. Glassman, editor in chief of The American magazine wrote an interesting piece this week on what he called the "most penicious monopoly in America": the cable television market. He makes a great point that in this year of partisanship and legislative gridlock, the states (and even the U.S. House of Represenentatives) that have passed cable competition legislation did so with wide margins of agreement. Yet the U.S. Senate can't even get a floor vote on a federal bill that promises to deliver billions in savings for consumers as well as billions in economic investment. It makes you just scratch your head. You can read the article at: http://www.aei.org/publications/filter.all,pubID.24951/pub_detail.asp

California gets competition

Competition has just been unleashed in California. With more than 36 million people, most of them cable customers, the state has the most cable savings to gain  -- $852 million a year.  It's not surprising that lawmakers there wanted credit for helping consumers save that money. It shouldn't be so hard for the U.S. Senate to see the potential good that nationwide cable competition would offer.  I've signed the C4CC pledge to keep fighting for cable choice even though conventional wisdom says it's a dead issue this year. Join me!  Get your share of the cable savings. Sign the pledge at http://www.Consumers4Choice.org   

C4CC Launches We Deserve Cable Choice Campaign

Monopoly cable television has clearly not worked for America. Rates are too high. Customer service quality is too low. And programming just isn't what it could be.

We just launched a new campaign to bring control over cable programming and costs back to the people who truly deserve it: the consumers.

There is only one thing that will get cable companies to change their ways: competition. You may have heard a lot lately about a bill in Congress that would create competition in the cable industry. Unfortunately, this bill is now stalled in the U.S. Senate. Some people say there's no hope for getting it passed this year. They say Congress is too distracted by the upcoming election and that the proposed law is just too complicated.

We think they're wrong.

We are on a mission to get the Senate to focus on giving consumers what they need: more cable television providers in the marketplace. If you're like us, and are tired of excuses and of the limited choices of cable providers available to you, we need your help. Please join in the fight by reading the information we send to you over the next few weeks, pledging your support for cable competition, and getting the word out to your friends and family.

Because when cable companies compete for customers, customers win.

Senate Committee on Verge of Consumer Win

The Senate is expected to wind up its markup of legislation that will streamline the video franchise process and move one step closer to a video marketplace where the consumer rules, not the cable company.  There will be some heated debate on issues that could derail the bill like network neutrality.  The committee should focus on sections where there is consensus – opening up the cable marketplace to competition – and take up the other contentious issues another time.  Consumers deserve a victory and the Senate can make it happen.  Move forward on video choice and leave the side issues behind.

Senate Taking Next Step for Competiton

The Senate Commerce committee is taking the next step in bringing cable competition to consumers by marking up legislation today and voting it out of committee next week most likely.  Tech blogger Om Malik’s GigaOm shows us what competition does to cable companies and their broadband service (ups their speeds, keeps prices stable) and what the lack of competition does (stagnant speeds, continued price increases).

Tell your Senator that you demand cable competition and the Senate can make it happen.

Senate Takes up Video Choice

With a great victory for consumers in the House of Representatives last week, consumers are closer than ever to enjoying true competition for cable and broadband services. Today, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on Senator Ted Stevens’ (Alaska) communications bill that will streamline the video franchise process. Stevens modified his initial draft to accommodate the needs of mayors and localities and is poised to move forward with a markup of the bill next week (June 20).

The Senate now can finish the process by keeping to its schedule and pass a good, clean franchise reform bill. Consumers deserve this win – check the clock to see how much consumers could save!

House of Reps Gives Consumers a Win

Let me underscore that – a BIG win. Last night, the House voted overwhelmingly (majorities of both parties) 321-101 to streamline the video franchise process which will spur competition for consumers cable subscriptions. C4CC applauds the House for seeing the bill to final passage – consumers are the real winners. Lower prices, more choices and better service comes when companies compete in the marketplace. The passage of this bill brings competition for cable consumers one step closer.

We’ve learned that Senator Stevens, the Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee is expected to release his re-drafted telecom bill which is expected to be the main vehicle for franchise reform in the Senate. There is an aggressive schedule for this legislation with a hearing on June 13 and mark-up of the bill on June 20. That would pave the way for a final vote in the Senate in early July.

The momentum is with cable consumers – lets keep it up!

Pew Report: Broadband Growing

The Pew Internet and American Life Project released a report on the growth of broadband and found some remarkable statistics. 84 million American households now have some form of broadband, up 40% over last year. The report cites the drop in broadband prices contributed to the growth, especially among minority households. Broadband adoption jumped 121% between 2005-2006 among African-American households, according to the report.

Enacting video choice legislation will help further the penetration of broadband by investing in new high-speed networks and providing competition among providers which will drive consumer prices for broadband access down.