dcurrey
Premium
join:2004-06-29 | reply to icp1
Re: Tough one
Did the cable companies have to get a second franchise to offer phone service? |
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JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD
clubs: | Cable companies do not need a separate franchise agreement to offer phone or internet service. |
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yock
TFTC
Premium
join:2000-11-21
Fairfield, OH
| said by JTRockville  :Cable companies do not need a separate franchise agreement to offer phone or internet service. If that's the case, then Verizon shouldn't have to jump through the cable franchising hoops.
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Kommie
join:2003-05-13
East Haven, CT
| reply to JTRockville
said by JTRockville :Cable companies do not need a separate franchise agreement to offer phone or internet service. Here in CT, Comcast had to apply for a CLEC aggrement. |
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JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD
clubs: | Is Comcast providing digital phone or VoIP in CT? |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
Host:
Road Runner
PC gaming GAMES
PC gaming Tech
| reply to yock
Not necessarily a fair equation, because VoIP isn't regulated yet.
Cable franchise agreements often fund public TV, ensure local airtime for political events, and are starting to be used to ensure quality broadband service (see Montgomery County, Maryland).
A reworking of regulation makes more sense than a removal of regulation.
Unless people really enjoy having less power in their lives and local communities, then by all means....approve and enjoy. |
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stoli412
join:2003-02-12
Philadelphia, PA
 ·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | reply to yock
I agree. I believe the main original purpose of cable franchise agreements was to secure rights of way in cities and towns. Since Verizon already has the rights of way (assuming they're laying the fiber in the same conduits and on the same poles they already use for copper), why should they have to obtain another agreement?
At the same time, I do think Verizon should pay some kind fee to local governments. It should be a uniform fee for anyone who is providing telecommunications service using public rights of way. This money would be used to fund public access and other things of that nature. |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
Host:
Road Runner
PC gaming GAMES
PC gaming Tech
1 edit | quote:
I agree. I believe the main original purpose of cable franchise agreements was to secure rights of way in cities and towns. Since Verizon already has the rights of way (assuming they're laying the fiber in the same conduits and on the same poles they already use for copper), why should they have to obtain another agreement
Because cable franchise agreements don't just cover right of way issues, and phone franchise agreements alone won't be enough to cover all TV service provision issues.
A good primer:
»www.democraticmedia.org/ddc/CCCIntro.php
A hybrid agreement is probably needed that adds some regulation and removes other duplicate provisions..... |
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yock
TFTC
Premium
join:2000-11-21
Fairfield, OH
| I'm not sure if I trust that source to be unbiased.
Anyhow, making Verizon pay franchising is probably the legal thing to do here. Whether or not it's right is a question for the pundits, because quite frankly I just don't care enough to argue it.
My point is simply that turnabout is fair play. It is true that television providers must pay franchising fees, and VOIP is not regulated as to require franchising fees of its own, but the spirit of law here is what's being argued. VOIP is essentially a loophole here, and no amount of disdain for Verizon will make me argue that they must pay some regulatory fee when VOIP providers aren't required to pay similar fees just because they aren't yet regulated to do so. Verizon is simply fighting for equal regulatory rights in this case and I don't blame them one iota.
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djrobx
join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
 ·PHONE POWER
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T CallVantage
·Time Warner VOIP
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to Karl Bode
Does satellite TV need a franchise agreement? With cable we're stuck with the highest prices and the slowest innovation. As of Comcast taking over, things are finally getting somewhat modern around here, but I beleive that is due to competitive forces, not regulatory ones. About the only thing the franchise agreement does is ensure a cheap locals only tier. Whoopee! People can always go to their cable company for that. All the franchise board can do is threaten not to renew, and when was the last time you heard of that happening? I seem to recall Florida trying to kick AT&T Broadband out but not doing so in fear of lawsuits.
With Verizon entering a market with so much existing competition, I'm just not sure encumbering them with cable's franchise hoops is necessary. If people are disgruntled they have other places to go. It's not like when cable systems were first installed and it was pretty much the only feasable choice for TV.
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\\ROB - a part of the SCB local network |
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Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO | reply to JTRockville
Correct me if I am wrong on this but I believe I just read an article that "Digital Phone" is a marketing buzzword used by cable companies for their VOIP.
In essence, VOIP and Digital Phone are one in the same from what I gathered. |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
Host:
Road Runner
PC gaming GAMES
PC gaming Tech
1 edit | reply to yock
quote:
I'm not sure if I trust that source to be unbiased.
Ask a local town lawyer then. I'll bet you'll find it less biased than your local bell's PR man, or free market conservatives who think deregulation cures cancer and prevents earthquakes. Franchise agreements, when written and enforced properly, are designed to aid you.
quote:
My point is simply that turnabout is fair play. It is true that television providers must pay franchising fees, and VOIP is not regulated as to require franchising fees of its own, but the spirit of law here is what's being argued.
There's definately some leveling of the playing field that needs to occur between cable and phone providers, particularly concerning line-sharing and USF. Telecom laws are going to be re-written before year's end, and given the current political climate, I'll bet near total deregulation will be the end result......
That doesn't necessarily mean a bell who offers cable shouldn't have to adhere to a franchise agreement that actually addresses what they're deploying (video service).....and yeah, vice-versa for cable companies offering phone service.... |
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Cod
join:2000-07-05
Greensboro, NC
| reply to Skippy25
said by Skippy25 :Correct me if I am wrong on this but I believe I just read an article that "Digital Phone" is a marketing buzzword used by cable companies for their VOIP. In essence, VOIP and Digital Phone are one in the same from what I gathered. Here in NC, Time Warner offers digital phone service and it is NOT VOIP. I am not sure about Cox, Comcast, etc. |
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DaveNJ
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
·Comcast
·Patriot Media
| reply to Karl Bode
If Verizon can provide cable service, they should have to provide naked dsl, as part of there agreement. In addtion Verizon should not be alternative gifts to schools, thus spliting towns, for example. Local highschool and goverment channels exclusive to Verizon. Verizon should have to have a franchise agreement just like any other cable operator. Phone, data whatever doesnt matter, if they provide cable there need a franchise. |
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mishaq
Premium
join:2004-01-24
Richardson, TX
clubs:
| reply to Skippy25
No, I believe digital phone is different. VoIP uses internet data to make the phone call, while digital phone through a cable company just uses some reserved bandwidth on their cable set for phone conversations (another service provided by the cable company, so Im assuming you use their equipment or something)
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Damn you FCC! |
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cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
| reply to djrobx
said by djrobx :Does satellite TV need a franchise agreement? ... About the only thing the franchise agreement does is ensure a cheap locals only tier. Bad example.
The franchise agreement between a city and utility is a mutual benefit for both sides. Typically with cable service, the city/town will get added revenue to help fund public interest television, an outlet to air those channels, and the say over the most basic rate tier (aka "lifeline") of cable. The cable company in exchange for their money, bandwidth, and a little bit of oversight, get the use of city right of ways as well as usually a monopoly on cable service.
Satellite doesn't need the right of way nor the monopolistic power that cable companies need/want, so they don't have to agree to pay the local government for the franchise fee.
Verizon's deal is that they already have the right of way with the FIOS lines providing the telephone service. They now want to add a service on top of that line that the original franchise agreement didn't mention. There is where the problem, or at least dispute, lies.
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insomniac84
join:2002-01-03
Schererville, IN | reply to Karl Bode
It is fair, some cable companies have offered digital telephone service for a while, which is not VoIP. |
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yock
TFTC
Premium
join:2000-11-21
Fairfield, OH
| said by insomniac84 :It is fair, some cable companies have offered digital telephone service for a while, which is not VoIP. How exactly is Digital Phone *NOT* VOIP?
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Search first, ask questions later. |
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audiog
join:2004-08-09
Detroit, MI
2 edits | reply to dcurrey
No, Cable companies had to get CLEC approval in every state they offer phone service in.
Right now cable companies are locked in a fight over the rule that says a cable company is excluded from the rule that says a Telco with a network has to upon request offer their network and elements of to other telcos at TSLRIC rates.
The rule was over turned by the US Federal courts and now in the US Supreme Court. If the ruling is upheld by the US Supreme Court the the next logical step would be that a Telco entering into what is called a cable broadcast setup then the would have to follow the rules for a cable company.
This is going to be a big mess that the FCC created by saying a cable company can get CLEC approval but does not have to offer any network elements to other telcos. |
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nozzer
join:2004-06-25
Waltham, MA
| reply to yock
I can assure you that neither the RCN "digital phone" I have, or the Comcast digital phone I had is "voice over IP". It modulates a digital signal over the coax and is terminated at the CMTS, where it is carried onto the phone network. Also the cable companies have direct CO connects for 911 service etc, and you have to pay similar line charges and fees to the ones verizon charge.
Where Verizons claims really fall down is this - although they have a "phone franchise agreement", they could notionally offer TV+Internet+VOIP over FIOS, and not be collecting any revenue for the franchise agreement they have.
noz
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