Lost in the
midst of security votes in the Senate is another issue important to
American consumers: video choice.
According to Capitol Hill
sources, the Senate does not intend to bring Senator Ted Stevens'
video-choice bill to the floor any time soon, perhaps not at all
before the legislative year expires. The bill would streamline
telecom and other companies abilities to offer consumers an
alternative to cable TV, which in many places across the country
has a monopoly hold on local TV franchises.
Now comes word of a bipartisan
poll that shows that the vast majority (82%) of likely voters favor
choice in cable TV because it would likely result in lower prices,
better customer service (81%), delivery of new technologies and
enhanced services to customers (78%).
The video choice bill is a
winner for Republicans, if only because it represents a "hidden
tax" cut for consumers, about $100 to $200 less annually in lower
cable TV bills per household, according to a study by Banc of
America.
"We know it's a winner, which
is why we aren't going to let it reach the floor before election
day," says a Democrat leadership aide. "We aren't going to give
Republicans a victory on anything if we can avoid it."
Another sticking point; Sen.
Harry Reid's support of Internet regulatory language some far-left
members of his caucus support and want included in the video-choice
legislation.
UPDATE: We should
note that the poll cited above was one commissioned by Verizon, a
company that is one of the big proponents of the video-choice
legislation. And it isn't just video-choice that Democrats are
blocking. There are a series of politically helpful tax-cut and
appropriations bills that are being held up due to election year
jockeying.
topics:
Harry Reid, NATO
