Quote :

"Cable television service will be deregulated in North Carolina in a move supporters hope will lead to new programming choices and lower rates under new rules given final legislative approval Tuesday. Beginning Jan. 1, the measure would phase out local franchise agreements between cable providers and city and county governments. After that, any company who wants to provide pay television service over phone lines or broadband Internet can register with the Secretary of State's Office. Traditional phone companies such as BellSouth and Embarq consider the bill, which now goes to Gov. Mike Easley for his signature, an easier way to enter new markets. "Anybody who subscribes to cable ... or who might subscribe should be pleased with the passage of this bill," BellSouth spokesman Clifton Metcalf said. He couldn't say when BellSouth would enter North Carolina markets under the new rules if Easley signs the bill. The General Assembly completed its work on the bill when the House voted 111-5, without additional debate, to changes the Senate made it to the original measure. The House held a robust debate on the measure last month when several lawmakers unsuccessfully pushed amendments to require television in rural or isolated areas in addition to urban areas. Opposition waned as the Senate approved a companion bill earmarking part of the state sales tax on telephone and video service for grants to improve broadband access, public access channels and community media centers. The bill authorizes the state Attorney General's Office to investigate complaints about video services under the bill. Other states and Congress are considering efforts to jump-start competition for video programming in regions where cable television has essentially held a monopoly for decades. The U.S. House passed a bill earlier last month that would replace local franchise agreements with a national process. At least one North Carolina community already appears to be benefiting from cable TV competition. In Lexington, where consumers can choose between Time Warner Cable and Lexcom Cable, rates are lower compared to many other areas of the state served by one company. The measure also taxes all video programming service _ including satellite television regulated by the federal government _ at the same 7 percent sales tax rate. Legislative fiscal analysts said local governments, which currently get a portion of a cable franchise tax, shouldn't lose money through the tax changes."

http://www.wral.com/apncnews/9501661/detail.html

apparently this has already been signed by the governor according to the FTTHCouncil.org

more info

http://www.freepress.net/defendlocalaccess/=NC

This was mentioned in http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=421596
but I think is threadworthy

7/27/2006 6:21:53 AM

Cheaper Cable TV soon?

My initial gut reaction was 'I doubt it' but I really don't know enough about it to say one way or the other. The only thing I'm sure about is that I'll be getting a weekly call from BellSouth trying to get me to buy into their cable program

7/27/2006 7:19:34 AM