"The telecom legislation would:
Allow phone companies to receive statewide franchises for their new TV services, bypassing city governments.
Deregulate basic phone rates, allowing phone companies to raise prices.
Let electric utilities deliver broadband Internet service over their power lines.
SBC Communications Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc., armed with a bevy of lobbyists, sought the controversial measure to ease their entry into the TV battleground."
SBC of San Antonio, and a company hatched from what used to be Irving-based GTE.
It doesn't surprise me that Texas passed this bill.
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"Life's like an hourglass glued to the table" --Anna Nalick, "Breathe"
[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: But does it surprise you that SBC talks out of both sides of its mouth at one time; trying to insist that the newer services like VOIP be absolutely required to go through all the legal hoops at SBC now wants to avoid for itself? PAT]