• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Electrical Engineering News and Products

Electronics Engineering Resources, Articles, Forums, Tear Down Videos and Technical Electronics How-To's

  • Products / Components
    • Analog ICs
    • Battery Power
    • Connectors
    • Microcontrollers
    • Power Electronics
    • Sensors
    • Test and Measurement
    • Wire / Cable
  • Applications
    • 5G
    • Automotive/Transportation
    • EV Engineering
    • Industrial
    • IoT
    • Medical
    • Telecommunications
    • Wearables
    • Wireless
  • Learn
    • eBooks / Handbooks
    • EE Training Days
    • Tutorials
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • White Papers
    • Design Guide Library
    • Digital Issues
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • DesignFast
  • Videos
    • EE Videos and Interviews
    • Teardown Videos
  • EE Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online.com
  • Bill’s Blogs
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

FCC chief considers forcing cable TV competition

August 22, 2005 By ECN Staff

Copyright 2005 Gannett Company, Inc.

USA TODAY

August 23, 2005, Tuesday, FIRST EDITION

By Leslie Cauley

From Lexis Nexis

NEW YORK — One little-noticed provision of the 1992 Cable Act could give the Federal Communications Commission the power to compel cities to let the regional Bells compete head-on with cable TV operators. And to do so quickly — no foot-dragging allowed.

At least that’s what FCC Chairman Kevin Martin thinks, and if he’s right, he may try to use that authority to widen broadband’s reach across the U.S.A.

Martin, in a written statement for USA TODAY Monday, confirmed that he is considering taking such action.

“Several weeks ago I asked the staff to explore what the commission can do to ensure that local authorities are not unreasonably refusing to award additional competitive licenses” for video, he said.

Granting additional franchises, he added, “would promote competition and stimulate broadband deployment.”

The chairman’s comment is a not-so-veiled reference to a short passage in the 13-year-old Cable Act. The provision — Section 621(a)(1), to be exact — states that local franchising authorities “may not unreasonably refuse to award an additional competitive franchise” for video.

By some readings, that means cities can’t erect obstacles to keep out video competitors.

One city wanted Verizon to install a fiber-optic ring to connect its traffic lights. Another wanted it to provide a wireless connection for a local library.

Verizon and SBC are spending billions to deploy advanced broadband services — voice, data and video — across the country. Before they can deploy video, however, cities want them to submit to the cable TV franchising process.

The problem? There are thousands of local franchising authorities, and each has its own licensing process and timetables.

Verizon has only a few video licenses. SBC says that its Internet TV service isn’t “cable TV” so it doesn’t need a license.

It remains to be seen if the FCC will act. But the mere fact that Martin is even considering pulling rank like that is bound to alarm local franchising bodies, which are loath to cede power to Washington.

“The cities are already upset” about ongoing attempts to curb their authority, notes Paul Glenchur, an analyst at Stanford Washington Research Group. “What you’re talking about here is the usurpation of local authority.”

Blair Levin, who was an assistant to former FCC chairman Reed Hundt, agrees. But he also thinks Martin’s straight shot across the bow could aid broadband’s expansion.

“It’s smart for the chairman to use the FCC’s bully pulpit to warn the cities against log rolling the Bells” on broadband, says Levin, an analyst at Legg Mason Wood Walker in Washington. “The only question is at what point does he think he should intervene.”

Martin isn’t saying. But he clearly intends to stay on top of the issue.

Says Martin: “I intend to do whatever I can to help meet the president’s goal of ‘universal and affordable access for broadband technology’ by 2007.”

You Might Also Like

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Primary Sidebar

EE Engineering Training Days

engineering

Featured Contributions

Meeting demand for hidden wearables via Schottky rectifiers

GaN reliability milestones break through the silicon ceiling

From extreme to mainstream: how industrial connectors are evolving to meet today’s harsh demands

The case for vehicle 48 V power systems

Fire prevention through the Internet

More Featured Contributions

EE Tech Toolbox

“ee
Tech Toolbox: Internet of Things
Explore practical strategies for minimizing attack surfaces, managing memory efficiently, and securing firmware. Download now to ensure your IoT implementations remain secure, efficient, and future-ready.

EE Learning Center

EE Learning Center
“ee
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.
“bills

R&D World Podcasts

R&D 100 Episode 10
See More >

Sponsored Content

Advanced Embedded Systems Debug with Jitter and Real-Time Eye Analysis

Connectors Enabling the Evolution of AR/VR/MR Devices

Award-Winning Thermal Management for 5G Designs

Making Rugged and Reliable Connections

Omron’s systematic approach to a better PCB connector

Looking for an Excellent Resource on RF & Microwave Power Measurements? Read This eBook

More Sponsored Content >>

RSS Current EDABoard.com discussions

  • i need an embedded c program that will read a 12 bit memory address from the io pins and output the data to pins from the memory in a 8051 mcontroller
  • Power on delay circuit
  • General purpose CMOS Op Amp and PMOS & NMOS from LTSpice library
  • Power switches to replace Mechanical Relay in the HV pulse tester setup
  • Single Ended- Differential Ended LNA comparison

RSS Current Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • Guitar electronics project
  • Arduino picking up button presses on power up of the board
  • 12v battery, 18v magic
  • Behringer MX 1602 mixer - reading block diagram
  • how to work on pcbs that are thick
Search Millions of Parts from Thousands of Suppliers.

Search Now!
design fast globle

Footer

EE World Online

EE WORLD ONLINE NETWORK

  • 5G Technology World
  • Analog IC Tips
  • Battery Power Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Engineer's Garage
  • EV Engineering
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips

EE WORLD ONLINE

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Teardown Videos
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
  • About Us

Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy