The following is from "Your Views" in The Record, Jan. 30, 2006:
I was pleased to see "Verizon campaign raises questions" (Page A-1, Jan.24), concerning Verizon's effort to get a statewide high-speed cable TV franchise.
The proposed bill supported by Verizon did little more than replace the stranglehold currently held by Time Warner and Comcast on cable service with a new one to be held by Verizon.
A state government truly concerned about the public interest would make changes that would allow true competition. They would preserve the right of cable companies to negotiate non-exclusive contracts with municipalities and allow statewide contracts that would permit competition. The bill in question allowed only for the statewide contracts.
Finally, a consumer-oriented bill should guarantee the right of municipalities to establish community broadcast WiFi Internet service.
As the new technologies develop, it becomes ever more crucial for consumers to protect their rights to a free flow of information and entertainment at competitive costs.
Richard Insley
Hackensack, Jan. 24
