Spring Break
Proposed bill could lower cable costs
New legislation would encourage competition, eliminate monopolies
Janie Boschma
Issue date: 4/30/07 Section: Campus News
If the proposed Cable Choice Bill passes the state Legislature, Eau Claire residents and other Wisconsinites could enjoy lower cable television bills.
The goal of the Cable Choice Bill is to dissolve the monopoly on cable television, said state Rep. Terry Moulton, R-Town of Seymour.
The bill would require all cable providers to pay a standard 5 percent of their gross revenue to the municipality, eliminating the negotiation process Moulton said has discouraged cable companies from Wisconsin.
"Hopefully, as competitors enter the market, we'll see lower cable bills," Moulton said.
He said 11 other states have passed similar bills and saw an average 23 percent decrease in cable charges.
Moulton said he co-sponsored the bill with state Rep. Jeff Wood, R-Chippewa Falls, in response to overwhelming complaints of high cable bills from local constituents.
"Since I've been in office, it's one of the bills that received the most response from my district," Moulton said. "It's an issue a lot of people are upset about."
In the past, Eau Claire residents have only had the option of using Charter Communications' services, Moulton said.
A recent amendment to the bill would grandfather in cities, such as Eau Claire and Milwaukee, which already charge a Public, Educational and Government fee from providers. Moulton said those cities will be able to charge the fee, which is typically about 85 cents per subscriber, for three more years after the bill's approval.
PEG fees support programming that is not strictly for entertainment, such as local government meetings.
Junior Megan Nikolai said she is a fan of Eau Claire's Community Television, broadcasted on Channels 11 and 12. She said she watches "whatever's on that's interesting," whether it is British comedy or a government meeting discussing Eau Claire's development plan.
"It's not that I sit down every day to watch public meetings - every now and then to know what's going on," she said. "I think it's important. Not everyone has time to sit in on public meetings."
State Sen. Pat Kreitlow, D-Chippewa Falls, said he hopes three years will give competitors enough time to establish a customer base. After three years of competitive prices, public access television stations may be able to afford to fund their own PEG programming, he said.
"It's a good situation in the sense that we're bringing competition to the video market," Kreitlow said. "The bad news is that the PEG funding will go away. (We're being) penalized for our own good habits.
"PEG channels have become a very important part of 21st-century democracy," he said, adding they provide one of the best ways to hold officials accountable. "We really value our PEG channels in the Chippewa Valley."
The state Assembly will review the bill again in May. Kreitlow encourages citizens to contact their representatives and senators to voice any concerns.
"The bill is still not a done deal," he said. "I think there still could be changes made."
The goal of the Cable Choice Bill is to dissolve the monopoly on cable television, said state Rep. Terry Moulton, R-Town of Seymour.
The bill would require all cable providers to pay a standard 5 percent of their gross revenue to the municipality, eliminating the negotiation process Moulton said has discouraged cable companies from Wisconsin.
"Hopefully, as competitors enter the market, we'll see lower cable bills," Moulton said.
He said 11 other states have passed similar bills and saw an average 23 percent decrease in cable charges.
Moulton said he co-sponsored the bill with state Rep. Jeff Wood, R-Chippewa Falls, in response to overwhelming complaints of high cable bills from local constituents.
"Since I've been in office, it's one of the bills that received the most response from my district," Moulton said. "It's an issue a lot of people are upset about."
In the past, Eau Claire residents have only had the option of using Charter Communications' services, Moulton said.
A recent amendment to the bill would grandfather in cities, such as Eau Claire and Milwaukee, which already charge a Public, Educational and Government fee from providers. Moulton said those cities will be able to charge the fee, which is typically about 85 cents per subscriber, for three more years after the bill's approval.
PEG fees support programming that is not strictly for entertainment, such as local government meetings.
Junior Megan Nikolai said she is a fan of Eau Claire's Community Television, broadcasted on Channels 11 and 12. She said she watches "whatever's on that's interesting," whether it is British comedy or a government meeting discussing Eau Claire's development plan.
"It's not that I sit down every day to watch public meetings - every now and then to know what's going on," she said. "I think it's important. Not everyone has time to sit in on public meetings."
State Sen. Pat Kreitlow, D-Chippewa Falls, said he hopes three years will give competitors enough time to establish a customer base. After three years of competitive prices, public access television stations may be able to afford to fund their own PEG programming, he said.
"It's a good situation in the sense that we're bringing competition to the video market," Kreitlow said. "The bad news is that the PEG funding will go away. (We're being) penalized for our own good habits.
"PEG channels have become a very important part of 21st-century democracy," he said, adding they provide one of the best ways to hold officials accountable. "We really value our PEG channels in the Chippewa Valley."
The state Assembly will review the bill again in May. Kreitlow encourages citizens to contact their representatives and senators to voice any concerns.
"The bill is still not a done deal," he said. "I think there still could be changes made."
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