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Rep. Jim Hackworth - House District 33
IMMEDIATE RELEASE April
10, 2008
Competitive Cable & Video Services Act Announced
New bill designed to promote a climate of competition
NASHVILLE (April 10) – On Monday, House
and Senate Members announced they had reached a compromise between cable
television providers and AT&T, and introduced the “Competitive Cable and
Video Services Act.”
“Consumers win when companies compete
for their business,” said Rep. Hackworth. “This bill is
designed to create a climate of competition that will hopefully result
in better quality services throughout Tennessee and spur faster
development to underserved areas.”
Under the new bill, competitors would be
able to obtain a ten-year state franchise certificate from the Tennessee
Regulatory Authority (TRA) with the requirement that the company must
build-out to at least 30% of their existing service area within 3.5
years. Companies would also be required to expand 25% of their
total new services to underserved and low-income areas. Failure to
meet either of these goals would result substantial financial penalties.
“While we want to open up this industry
to as many competitors as possible, as legislators our first priority is
to the citizens of Tennessee,” Hackworth said." "These new
requirements will ensure quality services are provided to as many
Tennesseans as possible and deter the practice of cherry-picking
neighborhoods.”
The new legislation also takes steps to
protect local interests, specifically the power of local government.
Under the new bill local franchise fees direct to local governments will
remain in effect and any construction of right-of-ways will be under
local regulation and approval.
“Local governments have a vested
interest in seeing more competitors invest in their areas,” Hackworth
said. “What we have done with this legislation is affirm their
place in the process and allow them to have the final word in the
development of their areas.”
The bill began its process through the
committee system of the House and is expected to be heard on the House
floor later this month.
- MORE -
New Law to
Require Background Checks for Day Care Workers Passes House
Also on Thursday, the House of
Representatives unanimously passed tough legislation requiring criminal
background checks on those applying for jobs in day care.
“Too often we hear horror stories of
abuse in day care facilities that could have been avoided had proper
screenings been done,” said Hackworth. “We must do more to
protect our children and this legislation looks to do that.”
House Bill 3264 revises currently law to
require criminal background checks be completed before any approval of
employment within a child care facility as well as be completed before
foster care or adoptive parent rights are approved. Under the
previous law information necessary for a background check could be
submitted up to 10 days after employment was started or approval was
given. This left a large window of opportunity for predators to
potentially exploit the system.
“We have to continue to be vigilant when
it comes to the safety of our children, and this new law does just
that,” said Hackworth.
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