Texas, National Consumer Groups Applaud Enactment of Senate Bill 5; Predict Consumer Benefit will be Quickly Realized

Texas, National Consumer Groups Applaud Enactment of Senate Bill 5; Predict Consumer Benefit will be Quickly Realized

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- An Austin-based consumer group and a national advocacy group today applauded the enactment of Senate Bill 5, which they predicted will quickly make Texas consumers the leaders in advanced video products to the home.

"By encouraging competition, Texas is the first state in the nation to encourage better prices, higher service quality and more innovative choices for cable television consumers," said Lora Weber, president of Consumers Alliance of the Southeast, based in Texas. "We're talking about technologies that can transform the way government delivers social services, small businesses reach their customers and suppliers and consumers reach the marketplace -- all at rates that we can afford."

Robert K. Johnson, president of national advocacy group Consumers for Cable Choice, pointed to interactive video as an example of the technology possible through cable television.

"America has fallen behind much of the world in getting technology to consumers because of outdated cable franchise restrictions. Texas has taken the first step in the race to catch up," Johnson said, citing recent statistics that indicate the U.S. has dropped to 16th in the world for broadband penetration rates.

"The specter of competition will force all providers to offer the latest technologies faster and to give consumers the services and prices they deserve," he predicted. "This paradigm works for cell phone providers, and it will work just as well for cable television service."

Senate Bill 5, which was approved by large majorities in both the Texas House of Representatives and the Senate, became law today. The text of the bill is available at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi- bin/db2www/tlo/billhist/Smatrix.d2w/report?LEG=79&SESS=2&CHAMBER=S&BILLTYPE=B& BILLSUFFIX=00005&SORT=Asc .

About Consumers for Cable Choice, Inc.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind. Consumers for Cable Choice is a national alliance of consumer advocacy groups, private citizens and others who are committed to promoting maximum choice for consumers in cable, video and broadband services. Its mission is to actively remove the regulatory roadblocks that stand between today's monopolies and reformed government policies that open the channels for fair competition. Consumers for Cable Choice uses a combination of education and grassroots advocacy to impact change, which will result in a deregulated and pro-consumer market that stimulates fair price, more choices and better service options in the cable television industry. Johnson has been advocating for policies that benefit residential and small business consumers for more than 20 years. To learn more, visit http://www.consumers4choice.org/ .

Consumer Alliance of the Southeast (CASE) is a regional coalition of consumers, community leaders, and small business owners with members in 12 states, from Texas to Florida.

Source: Consumers for Cable Choice, Inc.

CONTACT: Robert Johnson, President of Consumers for Cable Choice, Inc., +1-317-506-7348, johnson@consumers4choice.org ; or Cheryl Reed, cherylreed@synergy-mg.com , or Amy Zucker, amyzucker@synergy-mg.com , both of Synergy Marketing Group, Inc., +1-317-205-9690

Web site: http://www.consumers4choice.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: To schedule a media interview with Mr. Johnson or Ms. Weber, contact Cheryl Reed or Amy Zucker at +1-317-205-9690.

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