TV4US Coalition: Digital Divide, Cable Price Hikes Should Spur Congressional Action on TV Choice

TV4US Coalition: Digital Divide, Cable Price Hikes Should Spur Congressional Action on TV Choice

Today, the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Telecommunications & the Internet holds hearings on a bill to promote greater consumer choice and competition for video services.

ARLINGTON, Va., March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement may be attributed to Charlie Black and Steve Ricchetti, co-chairmen of TV4US:

"If Congress will take just one action to narrow the digital divide and bring vital communications networks to underserved areas, this is the bill to pass. Reforming the antiquated cable franchise rules must be the foundation of any realistic effort to bring more choice and new video services to all Americans. This is particularly important for lower-income families, who spend proportionately more of their income on cable television and whose broadband adoption rates trail the rates for upper-income families.

"In communities where consumers have choice in cable providers, prices have dropped -- in many cases significantly. Even more important, competition's benefits reach across an entire geography -- regardless of which neighborhood receives the new services first. That's critical to bringing the Internet to those communities that have been unable to participate in its full economic and cultural benefits due to the cable companies' decade of spiraling price hikes.

"Rural communities also stand to gain from enactment of this legislation. New entrants will invest more in new technologies. Incumbents will invest in upgrades. As new and upgraded technologies are deployed, all communities stand to gain. Traditionally underserved areas deserve choices in service, and new entrants will compete for their business.

"For ten years, the cable companies have capitalized on consumers' lack of real choice in their TV providers to send prices spiraling upward. This artificial marketplace is one of the chief causes of the digital divide. That's why it's time for Congress to bring greater choice and competition to cable TV services."

TV4US members include AT&T; the National Association of Manufacturers, the nation's largest industrial trade association; more than a dozen telecom service and manufacturing companies and nearly a dozen prominent nonprofit organizations, including The Latino Coalition, Asian Business Association, Asian Women In Business and the National Black Chamber of Commerce.

Source: TV4US Coalition

CONTACT: Peter Arnold of the TV4US Coalition, +1-703-629-8552

Web site: http://www.wewantchoice.com/

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