For quite some time now there have been changes made across the regulatory landscape when it comes to cable television.   States across this nation have approved new laws that make it easier for cable companies to secure licenses to provide service.  Unfortunately most of these laws have come with consequences to community television stations…mainly in the form of funding cuts and poor channel placement and delivery to subscribers.

Fortunately none of these changes have been adopted in Massachusetts.  But there have been efforts to try.  In 2007 a bill was introduced with the support of Verizon to take control of franchising cable television away from cities and towns and place it into the hands of state regulators.  Such a move would have had detrimental effects in local communities’ ability to determine its local technological needs.  Due to strong opposition from community television advocates and local cities and towns the bill never came up for a vote.

2009 brings with it another attempt to change the landscape of cable television franchising in Massachusetts.  A second bill, once again supported by Verizon, attempts to make more subtle changes to state law.  Under the bill filed by State Senator Steven Pangiotakos of Lowell, control over franchising cable companies would remain with local municipalities.  What would change is the time communities have to approve or deny a cable TV application.  The bills calls for the process to last around 90 days.  Current law allows for the process to take a year.

There are other parts of the bill that would also impact the licensing process and community media, the minutiae of which I will spare you.  You can read the entire bill here.

The current way cable licenses are negotiated has worked for years.  There is no rational need to change the rules.  In 2007 Verizon had approximately 35 cable television contracts.  Today they have 100.  If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.  This ain’t broke.