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from: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Hold telecom hearings
Public knows too little about major reform legislation.

(May 9, 2007) — A telecommunications reform bill now in the Legislature would fundamentally alter the way cable television and Internet services are provided throughout the state. It involves big-money players in Albany wrestling over a multibillion-dollar industry.

Yet the measure, and the issue, has been flying under the public's radar to this point. Gov. Spitzer has been largely silent on the matter, and the Public Service Commission has taken a hands-off approach.

It's critical that the public is better informed about the bill, whose architect is Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, and that local governments have a chance to weigh in on changes that would directly affect their revenue and regulatory powers. This legislation is yet another diminishment by Albany of existing home-rule powers. On that score alone, local hearings are called for. If lawmakers want to keep this one bottled up in Albany, the governor should stake out a position and get his telecommunications chief out to the hustings to inform and listen.

A key feature of the bill is the abolition of municipal cable franchises, money from which supports local public-access channels, to be replaced by statewide franchises awarded by the PSC. This would benefit latecomers to the cable game, particularly Verizon, which, to compete with Time-Warner and others, now have to go head to head in localities.

Local franchises should stay. The PSC has enough on its plate with energy deregulation. It doesn't need a cable-franchising job as well. Cable competition is needed. But Verizon should wade in on the local level rather than trying to change the rules mid-game. Other bill features — ensuring the entire state has online services and "neutral" Web access — are sound. But they can be dealt with apart from franchising.

Parts of this reform make sense. But it's not a bill to be swallowed whole. And certainly not before the public is better apprised.