 | |
| |
TechnologyDaily Mobile
Kansas Enacts Video-Franchising Law
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Friday signed into law a measure to streamline her state's rules for granting video franchises.The bill, S.B. 449, allows new video companies in Kansas to bypass local regulators by applying for statewide franchises. The Kansas Corporation Commission will become the sole franchising authority.
Both Indiana and Texas passed similar laws in the past year. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine last month signed into law a bill to speed his state's franchising process but without completely stripping local regulators of their authority.
In a statement, Sebelius said Kansas' rules will allow for more robust competition that will benefit consumers throughout the Sunflower State by lowering prices. "This law will make it easier for new cable TV and video providers to come to Kansas by making it so they don't have to obtain franchises one community at a time," she said.
The measure prohibits new entrants from only providing services to wealthy neighborhoods. Franchise holders further must provide at least two public educational and governmental access channels to municipalities where they offer services within 120 days of local requests.
Sebelius signed another technology-related measure, H.B. 2662, to let state regulators require banks and trust companies to file information electronically.
New York Loosens Phone-Pricing Rules
The New York Public Service Commission on Tuesday voted to give telephone companies greater flexibility in the prices they charge consumers throughout the state.
Under new rules, Verizon Communications, the state's dominant phone provider, could increase its rates for basic service by $2 a year up to cap of $23. Frontier, which provides services in the Rochester area, could hike its rates by $2 for two years, at which time it again would have to negotiate increases with the commission.
In a release, PSC Chairman William Flynn said the pricing policy is necessary to maximize competition in the state's telecommunications market. According to Flynn, competition has been realized in the Empire State because of the proliferation of legitimate, alternative services such as Internet telephony.
"The reality is that telephone service is no longer a natural monopoly, and this commission is taking the necessary steps to allow the competitive market to flourish while prioritizing important consumer protections," he said.
The commission also voted to give Frontier and Verizon unlimited pricing flexibility for all non-basic services, including caller identification, three-way calling and voice mail. Both companies would have to offer uniform prices for such services to all state areas where they operate.
"The information economy requires widespread access to flexible telecommunications applications that facilitate economic development and investments in jobs from the private sector," Commissioner Thomas Dunleavy said. "Achieving that objective requires a level playing field where all telecommunications providers have the proper market-based incentives to invest in infrastructure."
Oklahoma Clears Bill Against 'Phishing'
Oklahoma lawmakers on Monday cleared a bill to curtail Internet-based "phishing" schemes that bait consumers into surrendering their personal information through the use of phony e-mails and Web sites.
The measure, H.B. 2473, was sent to Gov. Brad Henry for final approval. It would prohibit individuals from creating and using such messages and Web sites with fraudulent intent.
Violators of anti-phishing rules would face civil penalties of up to $500 per infraction. Victims of the scams could recover damages of up to $100,000 for each violation.
The proposal would outlaw the deployment of all electronic messages containing "false, malicious or misleading information which purposely or negligently injures a person." It would further prohibit the use of misleading e-mails to solicit consumers to provide personally identifiable information.
The measure is set to take effect Nov. 1.
Package Of Tech Bills Floated In Rhode Island
A group of House and Senate lawmakers in Rhode Island on Monday held a press conference to unveil a package of technology-related bills to satisfy recommendations made by the state's Science and Technology Advisory Council.
Last week, state Sen. William Walaska formally introduced three measures -- S. 2988, S. 2995 and S. 2997 -- that he said will make Rhode Island more competitive in the modern marketplace.
S. 2988 would establish a nine-member commission at the University of Rhode Island for research innovation. S. 2995 would offer tax credits to companies identified by the council as leading innovators. And S. 2998 would codify the council, which was established by executive order last year, and would require it to regularly report to the governor and General Assembly.
"Our investment in science and technology is becoming more and more important as we shift to a knowledge-based economy," Walaska said in a release. "It plays a critical role in our ability to attract good jobs to Rhode Island."
State House Majority Leader Gordon Fox and Rep. John Patrick Shanley on Wednesday introduced identical versions of all three bills in their chamber.
Minnesota Senate Passes Bill On ID Theft
The Minnesota Senate on Monday passed a measure to bolster consumer protections against identity theft.
The Senate voted 65-0 to clear a bill, S.F. 2002, that would let consumers freeze their credit reports in the event that their identities are stolen. Such freezes would prohibit the release of the reports to third parties without express authorization. Businesses that violate the freezes would be subject to penalties of up to $10,000 per infraction.
The bill further would require data brokers to immediately notify consumers immediately if there is reason to believe that their personal information has been exposed.
A Death Sentence For '25 To Life'?
The Pennsylvania House last week unanimously voted to support a national campaign to prevent minors from purchasing a controversial videogame.
House lawmakers voted 198-0 to for a bill, H.R.688, to endorse a National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund petition to remove from store shelves the game "25 To Life," which depicts violence between police officers and street gangs.
The game "dramatizes shooting and killing as a form of entertainment and glorifies violence," according to the text of the bill.
Last month at a U.S. Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on videogames, the law enforcement group presented Kansas Republican Sam Brownback with a list of more than 265,000 individuals who have signed the petition to ban "25 To Life."
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm also has endorsed the petition.
NEW FEATURE
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
