A telco selling TV and a group representing local franchise authorities disagreed...
A telco selling TV and a group representing local franchise authorities disagreed over local franchising authorities’ role in video competition. CenturyLink and the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, as well as individual LFAs and public, educational and governmental…
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channels, commented Monday in docket 12-203 (http://xrl.us/bnpgrw) on an FCC notice of inquiry for a multichannel video competition report covering the 52 weeks through June 30 (CD Sept 12 p7). The telco supported statewide video franchise laws, while the association said they didn’t always increase competition. “To maintain and expand that competitive choice it is critical that CenturyLink is able to obtain reasonably-timed and reasonably-termed franchises to provide its video services,” telco with 94,000 Prism pay-TV customers said (http://xrl.us/bnpgsv). Getting “reasonably-termed franchises” is an “economic consideration” for the telco, it said. “As a new MVPD entrant in markets where there are generally at least an incumbent cable provider and a direct broadcast satellite provider it is important that CenturyLink is able to obtain the necessary franchising permissions to offer its video service without undue delay. Franchise processes that take too long may result in changed economic circumstances that make Prism TV deployment less favorable in an area. This can include situations where multiple approvals are needed for nearby areas to result in a viable Prism TV launch. States that have moved to statewide video franchises are generally more appealing to new entrants evaluating market launches for competitive video services. States interested in competitive video service choices ... should consider the benefits of authorizing statewide video franchises.” With “immediate and extensive” video service buildout requirements “unrealistic,” LFAs “that afford flexibility in how non-incumbent video providers offer their services will be the most successful in attracting new video delivery options and offering their residents the greatest choice in their video delivery options at the best prices,” CenturyLink said. Not all municipalities have at least two competitive cable operators, an “unfortunate” thing, NATOA said (http://xrl.us/bnpgts). That’s “even with industry backed state legislative initiatives that were sold to policy-makers and consumers as a way to increase video service competition,” the group said. “With Verizon’s public statements that expansion of its FiOS service is over, AT&T’s acknowledgement that its U-verse build-out is over, and uncertainties over any further Google fiber projects, this situation is not likely to change any time soon."