• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / News / Senate passes cable bill

Senate passes cable bill

November 8, 2007 By WRN Contributor

The state Senate has passed a video competition bill which aims to deregulate the cable industry in the Wisconsin. A lengthy debate Thursday saw Senators offer more than twenty amendments to the controversial legislation authored by South Milwaukee Democrat, Jeff Plale. “This is after all till an art of compromise,” said Plale. “I think this bill is a very good bill.” Plale and supporters have argued it will decrease cable costs in the long run. Opponents maintain the bill will do nothing to help consumers in underserved areas of rural Wisconsin.

Among Senators who did not think the bill was very good — or even needed — Plale's fellow Democrat, Jon Erpenbach of Middleton. “There's 16 small phone companies right now, doing what AT&T wants to do,” said Erpenbach. “We don't need this legislation.” The most ambitious of the amendments offered would have resulted in a major rewrite of the bill, and was based on legislation passed in Illinois. That effort was beaten back, and in the end just a handful of amendments comprising minor changes were approved. That sends the bill back to the Assembly for concurrence: that chamber had previously passed the bill by an overwhelming margin, and Governor Jim Doyle is expected to sign it. Opponents of the controversial measure have argued that it's a creature of lobbying pressure by AT&T.

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (2:10 MP3)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News



Featured Stories

Future of abortion in Wisconsin hinges on SCOTUS ‘Roe’ decision

Juvenile arrested in connection with death of Lily Peters

Missing Chippewa Falls girl found dead, police seek suspect

Medical marijuana legislation gets public hearing at Capitol

Tommy Thompson announces he will not run for governor

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC