FreedomWorks Supports Consumer Choice Act of 2007 (HB 529) in Florida

FreedomWorks is continuing the national campaign to open the video programming market by activating its grassroots army in Florida to support HB 529, the Consumer Choice Act of 2007. The change in the law will allow more competition in the video programming market. This is good news for Florida consumers, because it means greater choice and access to new and innovative technologies.

Under the current law, companies that want to provide video programming are required to apply for a franchise on a town-by-town basis. This time-consuming and costly process acts as a barrier to competition as the application process is expensive and can take years to complete.

This does not reflect developments in technology that have allowed phone, wireless, cable, satellite, and other providers to offer consumers choices in video programming options.
The Consumer Choice Act of 2007 allows consumers to take advantage of new technologies by streamlining the franchise application process for potential providers. When companies compete to provide service, consumers win through more choices and lower prices.

FreedomWorks Florida Coordinator Tom Gaitens commented:

”Competition is good for Florida’s consumers. Between 1995 and 2005, the FCC found that cable rates have increased by 93 percent. By contrast, the highly competitive DSL market has witnessed a 74 percent free fall in rates between 2000 and 2006. The Consumer Choice Act will bring investment to our state and consumers will win with choices in providers, better service, and lower costs. Our grassroots activists are eager to support this free-market reform.”

FreedomWorks will join with other consumer groups at a press conference on Wednesday February 21 in Tallahassee to support free-market telecom reform and specifically, The Consumer Choice Act of 2007.

The Florida campaign is a part of FreedomWorks’ national “Choose Your Cable” campaign, an effort in support of broad nationwide telecommunications reform at both the state and federal level through an integrated campaign that includes extensive activist education, targeted grassroots lobbying, and both print and television advertising. Recently, FreedomWorks efforts helped to enact cable franchise reform in Michigan, North Carolina, Indiana, Kansas, and Texas.

FreedomWorks is a national grassroots organization promoting lower taxes, less government, and more freedom nationwide with over 800,000 members nationwide and more than 53,000 in Florida.