Ed Markey: “Mr. Chairman, we are now 3 minutes from casting the one vote that every consumer in America is going to understand. They…”

“Mr. Chairman, we are now 3 minutes from casting the one vote that every consumer in America is going to understand. They may appreciate that you are going to give them the ability to have one more long distance company out there, but they have already, in fact, enjoy dozens of long distance companies in America. But every cable consumer in America knows that in their hometown there is only one cable company, and the telephone company is not coming to town soon. Under Shays-Markey, when the telephone company comes to town, no more regulation. What the bill says right now is, even if the telephone company does not come to town, the cable companies can tip you upside down and shake your money out of your pockets. So you answer this question: When cable rates go from $25 a month to $35 a month, every month, are you going to be able to explain that there is competition arriving in 3 or 4 years? Keep rate controls until the telephone company shows up in town, then complete deregulation. That is what this bill is all about, competition. When the telephone company begins to compete, if it ever does, no rate control. But until they get there, every community in America for all intents and purposes is a cable monopoly. They are going right back to the same practices once you pass this bill. Support the Shays-Markey amendment. Protect cable consumers until competition arrives.”