Ars reports that Illinois is the latest state to jump on the franchise reform bandwagon. I haven’t looked at the specific bill, but if it’s anything like Missouri’s legislation I think it’ll be good for consumers.
Perhaps the best thing about it is that each new telecom bill that passes reduces the risk of new telecom legislation at the federal level. Franchise reform was near the top of the telcos’ wish list in the last Congress, and without that spur, they’re likely to lobby against any changes in telecom rules. Eighteen months ago I argued that we should all be rooting for the telecom bill to go down in flames, and I got my wish in the last session. I’m rooting for the same outcome this session.
The Technology Liberation Front is the tech policy blog dedicated to keeping politicians' hands off the 'net and everything else related to technology.