Levine gives radio address on cable access

Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, delivers this week's Democratic radio address on a bill he and Speaker Fabian Nunez have introduced to open the cable market to phone companies. Each and every Californian deserves new technology. But our old laws are holding us back from realizing this potential. My legislation removes the city-by-city cable franchising laws that have stifled competition and outlived their usefulness. If there’s one thing we know, it’s that competition brings choice, and choice drives up quality and brings down prices. This legislation will promote competition and protect important revenue streams for local governments. Allowing competition into the video service marketplace will benefit—and not detract from—the local tax base of your local community. The legislation met mixed review from the cities and counties. The California State Association of Counties said: While California counties appreciate the efforts of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez and Assembly Member Lloyd Levine in focusing attention on the issue of video franchising, AB 2987 misses the mark... The proposal outlined today falls short of the goal of providing a streamlined franchising process while maintaining the important social obligations of those who use the public rights of way. Depriving local governments of the tools necessary to maintain oversight will negatively impact California’s 36 million residents. The League of Cities added, "“We have deep concerns, however, about a number of issues in AB 2987."