America Channel Statement Regarding Senate Bill 2686 - the Communications, Consumer's Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006

America Channel Statement Regarding Senate Bill 2686 - the Communications, Consumer's Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006

HEATHROW, Fla., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The America Channel issued the following statement today:

In connection with the Senate Energy and Commerce Committee's hearing and consideration of the Communications, Consumer's Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006, multiple parties will advocate for inclusion of various provisions, regardless of their relation to video franchise reform. We ask Congress to remain focused on the reasons why telecom legislation -- and telco market entry -- are so imperative.

Consumers and competition need unencumbered and immediate passage of video franchise relief. The situation on the ground has become severe. Each year, consumers are losing billions of dollars due to the lack of effective competition. Consumer choice has diminished. Americans are dissatisfied with quality of content and the level of discourse on television. Lack of competition stifles opportunities for independent channels, excluding potentially better and cheaper content providers. These have adverse effects on consumer choice, consumer pricing, diversity, and the national discourse.

There are also compelling reasons to avoid regulation of the Internet. In broadband, consumer prices have declined dramatically in recent years. In television, prices have skyrocketed. In broadband, there are millions of content owners and developers. In television, a handful of companies now control 90% of what the public watches. Fear of potential future harm is insufficient reason to establish new legislation and may lead to unintended adverse consequences.

In view of abundant evidence of substantial and long-term discrimination against independent channels, we will continue to advocate for legislative and regulatory relief that will require application and enforcement of the FCC's program carriage rules, to protect independent channels. Independent channels increase competition in the content space, improve choice, apply downward pricing pressure on affiliated channels, and have a beneficial effect on diversity and the national discourse.

Congress should make franchise reform legislation its top priority. We trust that Congress will remain singularly focused on the real issue: To help millions of American consumers who deserve more choice and better pricing -- without delay. In our judgment, this is the single most urgent piece of telecom legislation in a decade.

About The America Channel

The America Channel is an independently owned new cable programming network set to launch in late 2006. The America Channel will explore and celebrate America, its communities, real heroes, and ordinary people who accomplish the extraordinary.

Source: The America Channel

CONTACT: Doron Gorshein of The America Channel, +1-407-333-3031

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