(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

Please allow me to correct inaccuracies conveyed by Mayor Curtatone and SCAT Executive Director Wendy Blom in your May 26 article regarding a bill that would streamline the cable TV franchising process in Massachusetts (“Somerville mayor, SCAT fight Verizon at Statehouse”).

The mayor’s claim that the bill would allow new providers to cherry pick which neighborhoods it would serve is just not true. The bill makes no change to the current process where towns and providers agree by contract where service is provided, along with build-out deadlines.

Blom’s claim that the bill would result in “destroying” local cable organizations is not true. The bill provides for all cable TV providers in a community to equitably share in the total costs of those local organizations, guaranteeing revenue of 6 percent of consumers’ cable bills.

The cable TV franchise reform bill will modernize the cable TV franchising process in Massachusetts and bring the benefits of cable TV choice and competition to more consumers more quickly.  It keeps control with the local community and lays out a predictable timeline that ensures consumers do not have to wait longer than necessary for cable TV competition.  The bill also will create a guaranteed and predictable revenue stream for local cable access organizations while at the same time enabling cable providers to share the total cost of cable access expenses so that consumers are not paying more than is necessary.

Phil Santoro
Verizon Media Relations