Dan Hill Calls For Review Of Cable Television And Internet Laws
According to press reports this morning, Comcast, the primary cable television and highspeed internet service provider in Massachusetts, is seeking to purchase a majority stake in NBC Universal for $6.5 billion in cash. Many consumers have seen their cable television and internet costs consistently rise over the last few years, while service providers like Comcast and Verizon have delayed in extending service to many areas in the state, including some parts of this state senate district, which consists of Charlestown, Everett, Chelsea and parts of Allston, Somerville, Cambridge, Saugus and Revere.
“ Until recently with the advent of Verizon’s FIOS service, Comcast has had a virtual monopoly on cablevision and high-speed internet service. Cable rates are regulated by the federal and state government, and consumers have a right to know whether Comcast has been honest with federal and state regulators in their justifications for rate increases over the last few years,” Hill said today. Hill is acutely aware of the service area problem – when he moved his law practice to the Charlestown Navy Yard in 2008, high-speed internet service was unavailable, from either Comcast or Verizon. Many parts of the state are still not wired for cable television.
“ The laws governing cable television franchising and rate-setting pre-date email. We need to bring cable and internet regulation into the 21st century, and I’m calling on Governor Patrick and his Department of Telecommunications and Cable who operate with limited competition, to provide better service at more fair rates. ”
“ Further, Massachusetts should be joining other states in calling on Congress to require cable operators to offer ‘ a la carte ’ programming options to consumers, so that we can choose to pay for just those channels we actually watch, rather than paying a lot of money for hundreds of channels that we don’t watch. And those operators like Comcast who are apparently flush with cash in this recession should be required to provide their services throughout their franchised areas, not just those areas where they can make the most money. ”
Dan Hill is a Democratic candidate for the Suffolk, Middlesex and Essex State Senate seat currently held by Anthony Galluccio.
