Carriers applaud passage of cable franchising legislation in Texas

September 8, 2005 Austin, TX -- Gov. Rick Perry yesterday signed into law a cable-franchising bill passed by the Texas Legislature during its second 30-day special session. The bill updates regulation of telecommunications in the state and allows for a single statewide franchise provision for companies entering the cable television business.

Verizon (New York City), for example, has built a significant amount of its totally fiber-optic network in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, where the company already offers its FiOS Internet Service and fiber-based phone service in about two-dozen communities. This same network can now be used to deliver to consumers a new choice for cable television service. Verizon expects to begin offering cable TV service in Texas this fall.

"This progressive legislation will define Texas as a broadband buyer's market known for consumer choice, innovative products and services, and technologically savvy customers," contends Steve Banta, Verizon Southwest Region president. "The broadband customer's thirst for fast, reliable, and interactive voice, data, and video services will be quenched as we offer a compelling combination of high-value communication services over the nation's most robust totally fiber-optic network."

Representatives from SBC (San Antonio, TX) also applauded the decision. " With the governor's signature [yesterday] on Senate Bill 5, the door to greater competition in the video marketplace is opened," adds SBC Texas president Jan Newton. "Consumers want and deserve more choices, new technologies and better prices in the TV and video market. Texas lawmakers recognized that fact when crafting this legislation. New providers are now poised to invest and compete in Texas in order to deliver a next-generation video entertainment product to a marketplace sorely lacking adequate competition."