Telecommunications debate moves ahead.

Nation's Cities Weekly, December, 2005 by Leanza, Cheryl A.

Behind the scenes work has been moving ahead on possible significant changes to the Communications Act during the closing months of 2005, focusing on reforming the local cable and video franchising process. While a crisis was averted on Capitol Hill when markup on a potentially bad piece of legislation was delayed in December, danger continues in 2006.

In addition, the Senate has scheduled an intense series of hearings for next year. On a second front, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched a proceeding to determine whether local franchise agreements are a barrier to competition.

The process of developing legislation in the House took several different approaches during the fall. In response to an outcry by cities and others in November,...

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