By DAVID KOENIG AP Business Writer
DALLAS (AP) -- Verizon and SBC believe they can break cable's powerful grip and get consumers to switch to the enhanced TV services they're cooking up, but they are having a tough time getting state legislators to help.
The two telecommunications powers lost a key battle over the weekend when Texas lawmakers failed to act on a bill that would have let phone companies obtain a statewide TV franchise instead of having to negotiate franchises with every individual city and town.
Verizon Communications Inc. and SBC Communications Inc. had hoped Texas would serve as a model for the nation, speeding their ability to sell TV service in many other states. Instead, it joined Virginia in frustrating the regional Bell companies.
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