Video franchising gets easier.

• Position: TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS - Brief article

All companies interested in offering cable services to consumers before 2005 were required to negotiate separate agreements with each city before they could lay cable in the ground or place it along utility poles. In some states these agreements were valid for up to 15 years. In order to establish these agreements, however, the company needed to enter into negotiations with as many as 2,500 or more cities per state.

In an effort to streamline this process, the Texas Legislature in 2005 approved a cable and video franchise law that permits state-issued agreements. Last year, statewide video franchise bills passed in at least seven other states, including California, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The California Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006 transfers to the state's public utility commission the video franchising authority formerly held by local agencies. Local authorities, however, will continue to oversee customer service, retain limited control over fights-of-ways and will receive a 5 percent franchise fee.

The Indiana law requires the...