DID YOU KNOW?
HB 534 by Rep. Joseph
Bouie would create regulation of any statewide cable franchise and put
under the power of the Public Service Commission. He said to the House Commerce
Committee that as the Federal Communications Commission now has declared
internet service a utility, any franchising relying upon Internet delivery now
should fall under the PSC.
Rep. Steven Ortego
asked whether the Legislature would have any oversight if this became law. He
was told that by statute it could direct the PSC, but regulations over the
Internet, in terms of delivery video services, would now solely be directed by
the PSC. Rep. Katrina
Jackson noted that even as the Secretary of State has the ability to grant
franchises statewide, there is no regulatory power and none is being done now.
Ortego expressed concern that the bill was too open-ended in its power to
regulate.
Opponents said the bill would undo
provisions of legislative control established years ago. They said the bill was
premature concerning the Internet and that the PSC would charge fees that would
be passed through to consumers. Already much was reporting was being done to
the FCC. The pointed out that the field was competitive and not indicative of a
monopolistic business, yet the bill would impose regulation on just one sector
of that.
Rep. Erich Ponti made
a substitute motion after the close to defer voluntarily. That passed 14-3.
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