State Laws/Franchising

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) is questioning whether AT&T Inc. needs a federal video-franchising law when the company is insisting that its Project Lightspeed video service relies on a technology exempt from all traditional cable rules, including local franchising.

Dingell, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, expressed his concerns in a letter Wednesday to AT&T chairman and CEO Edward Whitacre. Dingell is expected to attend a House subcommittee hearing Thursday on the franchising bill.

Amendment Puts A Curb on Towns’ Ability to Overbuild

Claim Dispute Could Be Confusing Consumers Ahead of DTV Transition

San Antonio -- A lawyer for the American Cable Association Tuesday warned small cable operators to start preparing for retransmission-consent negotiations now and offered them a primer on how to get ready for the testy talks with broadcasters that will begin in nine months.

Phone companies that plan to offer Internet-protocol video should comply with existing cable laws until Congress adopts new ground rules for all companies intending to market IP video, Cablevision Systems Corp. chief operating officer Thomas Rutledge told a House subcommittee Wednesday.

Rutledge said IP video is a nascent service not really ready for congressional classification. But to the extent that Congress examines IP video and its role in the broader market, lawmakers had many issues to consider.