WASHINGTON (March 30, 2006) - Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) heard testimony today during a hearing in the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet on their bipartisan legislation, and addressed key components of the bill, which will give consumers greater choices and lower prices for television. 

"This legislation represents a huge step in bringing lower prices and more choices, not only to my hard pressed constituents, but to the entire nation," Rush said. At the hearing, Rush provided greater insight into the benefits of how a national franchise process would increase competition by allowing more cable providers to enter new markets, which will result in more options, lower prices and enhanced service for consumers.

Rush also highlighted key provisions of the bill that prohibits discrimination on the basis of income and gives the FCC the power to revoke the cable provider’s national franchise. Additionally, The Barton-Rush bill, formally known as the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006 opens the doors for increased diversity in programming by requiring video (cable) service providers to provide access to leased channels to qualified minority owners.

"This bill will produce an explosion of opportunity for American workers and American consumers will get an array of video services that were unimagined just a few years ago," Barton said.

"Current law no longer reflects the technological and competitive reality. Congress has a responsibility to update our communications laws," he added. "The notion behind America's cable laws is that competition doesn't exist, but with new competitors preparing to enter the ongoing race between cable and satellite, the law needs to change."

The Barton-Rush bill will create a nationwide approval process for pay-TV services while still preserving cities' authority. In Texas, where the state legislature has already streamlined cable regulations, the city of Keller saw its cable prices fall nearly 25 percent after the local telephone carrier began offering TV.

Updating cable laws will not only create exciting new cable services, it will also spur consumer demand for broadband. This will lead to significant new investments, more jobs and greater Internet capabilities that will make U.S. communities more competitive in the global marketplace.

Specifically, the bill would:
 

• Create a nationwide approval process for pay-TV services. By streamlining this system, these companies will be able to offer new TV services in many areas while protecting local interests. Cable providers will also be eligible to participate in this streamlined system once they face local competition.
• Require Internet-based telephone services to offer 9-1-1 capabilities while ensuring Internet telephone providers have access to all necessary 9-1-1 infrastructure and technology.
• Clarify the FCC authority to prevent Internet service providers from blocking or degrading any content or applications delivered over the public Internet.
• Preserve municipalities' right to collect up to a five percent fee from pay-TV providers.
• Allow cities and towns to develop their own broadband networks.