Doria Bill To Expand Television Service Competition Approved

TRENTON – Senator Joseph V. Doria, D-Hudson, issued the following statement today regarding the Senate’s final legislative approval, by a vote of 31-5, of a bill that would foster cable competition in New Jersey and allow telecommunications companies to compete in the television broadcast arena:

“New Jerseyans will soon be able to see real savings on their cable bills, as Statewide franchises for cable TV puts downward pressure on rates and cable companies have to provide better deals for their consumers or get priced out of the market. With the Governor’s signature, cable competition in New Jersey will become a reality.

TRENTON – Senator Joseph V. Doria, Jr., D-Hudson, the sponsor of legislation which would amend the State’s Cable Television Act to allow telecomm companies and public utilities that provide for the transmission of video programming to compete in the television service market in New Jersey, issued the following statement on the bill’s approval today in the Assembly:

“With today’s Assembly action, we are only one step away from successful enactment of a legislative measure which will spur competition, lower television service costs, and create hundreds, if not thousands of jobs for our State’s economy.

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph V. Doria, Jr., which would amend the State’s Cable Television Act to allow telecomm companies and public utilities that provide for the transmission of video programming to compete in the television service market was unanimously approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee today, after going back before the Committee to consider Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee amendments made on Thursday.

“This is a big win for the consumers of New Jersey, because now, we’ll have meaningful competition which will lower the price of television broadcast services in the Garden State,” said Senator Doria, D-Hudson. “The cable industry basically controlled TV transmisson for a long time, because they were the only game in town with the technology to provide high quality TV to New Jersey customers. But advances in broadband technology have made it possible for other companies to get in the TV business, and in a fair and open marketplace, that’s going to translate to dollars saved for New Jersey cable TV subscribers.”

TRENTON – Senator Joseph V. Doria made the following statement today following the signature of Governor Corzine of bill S-192, which allows telecomm companies and public utilities that provide for the transmission of video programming to compete in the television service market:

“I commend Governor Corzine for signing this bill today and bringing competition to New Jersey’s cable market. This is a major step for New Jersey, opening the market for multiple companies to provide cable in an area, so that we can promote innovation and drive down the cost of cable for our residents.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph V. Doria, Jr., which would amend the State’s Cable Television Act to allow telecomm companies and public utilities that provide for the transmission of video programming to compete in the television service market was approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee today by a vote of 4-0.

“Under the current regulatory structure, cable companies do not face the sort of competition that is good for consumers, because for so long, they were the only show in town with the technology to provide high quality television service,” said Senator Doria, D-Hudson. “However, recent advances in the transmission of data through telecommunications lines has made it possible for new players to enter the industry. We need to put mechanisms in place to encourage competition, and allow the residents of New Jersey to finally have a say in terms of their television service provider.”