Tina Smith: “I rise today with Senator Rockefeller to introduce the Video Choice Act of 2005. This bill will promote competition and…”

“I rise today with Senator Rockefeller to introduce the Video Choice Act of 2005. This bill will promote competition and help bring choice to consumers in the video market. In addition, the bill will further the development of next generation broadband networks and spur economic development in rural areas of the country, like Wallowa, OR. A recent Government Accountability Office study underscores the benefits of competition in the video market. In August 2004, GAO concluded that cable rates are on average 15 percent lower in markets with a wire-based competitor to the incumbent cable operator. My legislation promotes competition and lowers rates by eliminating redundant and unnecessary video franchises. Specifically, my legislation permits any company that has already obtained a franchise to build and operate a network to offer video services over that network without obtaining a second, redundant franchise. These competitive video service providers will still be subject to the important social policy obligations of cable operators, including the obligation to pay fees to local governments; to comply with the retransmission consent and must-carry provisions of the Act; to carry public, educational, governmental and non-commercial, educational channels; to protect the privacy of subscribers and to comply with all statutory consumer protections and customer service requirements.…”