Verizon and the state wide franchise
Verizon has gotten its wish; under the banner of increased competition they have pushed legislation through the Assembly that removes the need to work with local communities to come to agreement on cable TV franchises. Now Verizon will apply for a state wide cable TV franchise.
Now Verizon should be held to clearly state their position on competition. Verizon executives have made it publicly know that they oppose keeping the internet a level playing field and they plan to change the way internet traffic travels over their network. They want to have a slow lane and high priced fast lane on the internet, in effect creating toll booths on the information super highway.
Their plans could keep NJ consumers from having the best choices available to them when surfing the web or keep NJ companies from having a fair shot at business on the internet.
Verizon will use the same pipes to deliver cable TV as they use to deliver internet service and they will use internet technology know as Internet Protocol(IPTV) to provide TV to your house. The State Board of Public Utilities (BPU) should ask Verizon if they really are for competition and want to keep the internet a level playing field or if they are only for competition when it comes to getting a piece of the cable TV pie.
The BPU should not grant Verizon a cable TV franchise unless Verizon promises our state that they will uphold the tenets of Network Neutrality.
