Dear Mayor:

The National League of Cities has brought to our attention an FCC Report and Order which will impact cable television franchises.  We are working with Steve Goodell, the League’s special telecommunications counsel, to determine if this order will have adverse impacts here in New Jersey.

We recommend you access the full NLC summary (5 pages) and share it with your key officials.  Below is an excerpt from the NLC document.

(From NLC)
In a wide-ranging “Report and Order” released March 5, 2007 (the “Franchising Order”), the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) has concluded that the “local franchising process in many jurisdictions constitutes an “unreasonable barrier to entry” and has therefore adopted rules and policies designed, the Commission says, to “facilitate and expedite entry of new cable competitors into the market for the delivery of video programming, and accelerate broadband deployment….” 

In addition, the Commission has issued a “Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” (“Further Notice”) requesting public comment on a number of issues, including the Commission’s tentative conclusion that the findings in the Franchising Order should apply to incumbent cable operators in the renewal process. 

Very truly yours,

                                                                        William G. Dressel, Jr.
                                                                        Executive Director