Updated 2/19/06: SBC (now AT&T) and Verizon friendly bills in the 2006 Indiana General Assembly propose significant changes to state telecommunications laws to incent the Baby Bells to build very high speed networks capable of delivering video over internet (IPTV) and compete with cable. Senate Bill (SB) 245 and House Bill (HB) 1279 propose telephone rate deregulation, and a move from local cable franchising to minimal-obligation, state-level video franchising on July 1 through the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission (IURC).

In San Antonio, where AT&T is rolling out Project Lightspeed, the existing public access TV channel went off the air after the start of state-wide video franchises. Dallas Community Television saw their budget cut 22%. The potential loss to local communities in Indiana is immense.

Indiana Telecommunications bills, SB 245 and HB 1279, would:

• Eliminate basic cable rate regulation
• Reduce franchise fees paid to local government (20-30% for Indianapolis) and eliminate audits (SB 245)
• Threaten the financial viability and growth of public, education and government (PEG) access TV channels
• Eliminate basic telephone rate regulation and enable local measured phone service
• Enable redlining by eliminating build-out requirements to all homes in a service area
• Prevent regulation of high speed internet and advanced internet services, including "net neutrality"
• Curtail the development of municipal broadband projects, including those with corporate partnerships (SB 245)
• Move cable customer complaint mediation to the IURC or Indiana Attorney General's office
• Eliminate institutional networks (I-nets) that provide secure, high speed connections for government building and schools (SB 245)

Please contact your State Senator and Representative right away and ask them to oppose this legislation. This legislation is being rushed through the short session of the Indiana General Assembly, with inadequate opportunity for public scrutiny and input.

Find your Indiana legislators

Email your Indiana legislators

Write or call your State legislators:

House of Representatives

Indiana House of Representatives
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2786
(317) 232-9600
(800) 382-9842

Senate

Indiana State Senate
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2785
(317) 232-9400
(800) 382-9467

Additional information:

Digest of Indiana SB 245 on telecommunications, with links to full text and latest actions

Digest of Indiana HB 1279 on telecommunications, with links to the full text and latest actions

Summary of federal legislation targeting local cable franchising

"Giant Phone Monopolies Push Anti-consumer Legislation: Ratepayers Can Expect Higher Bills and Poor Service," Citizens Action Coalition fact sheet

Dallas and San Antonio Public Access TV Lose with Texas Statewide Video Franchising

"Cable debate turns to pricing," Indianapolis Star, February 18, 2006

"Don't let state restrict broadband competition," Indianapolis Star, January 15, 2006

"Deregulation could have big impact on little guys," Indianapolis Star, January 15, 2006

"Lawmakers move to deregulate phone, cable service," Indianapolis Star, January 10, 2006