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Minutes for HB2449 - Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications
Short Title
Amending the video competition act.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 7, 2018
Chair Seiwert opened the hearing.
Nick Myers, Assistant Revisor of Statutes presented a bill brief. (Attachment 1) The bill would make amendments to two definitions in the video competition act. The first amendment would add to the definition of a "competitive video service provider" any entity that provides "the packet delivery system for video service." This change would make entities that provide the packet delivery system for video services subject to the video competition act. As such, these entities could seek a video service authorization from the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). The second amendment would remove the word "wireline" from the definition of video service. This would remove the requirement that, to be considered a video service, services must be provided through wireline facilities located in the public right of way. With this change, video programming services provided through any type of facilities located in the public right-of-way could be considered a video service. He stood for questions.
Representative Tom Sloan presented proponent testimony. (Attachment 2) Passage of the bill simply means that a statewide franchise for video services includes broadband. It is designated to provide customers access to broadband more efficiently and more cost-effectively. It does not mandate that broadband providers avail themselves of a statewide franchise, it is entirely voluntary and service providers could continue to negotiate on a municipality by municipality basis. He stood for questions.
The Chair temporarily closed the hearing. The Chair subsequently re-opened the hearing.
The Chair closed the proponent portion of the hearing.
Opponent written only testimony was submitted by Patrick Fucik, National Director, State Legislative Affairs, Sprint (Attachment 3) and Mike Scott, President, AT&T Kansas. (Attachment 4)
The Chair closed the opponent portion of the hearing.
Neutral written only testimony was submitted by John Idoux, Kansas Governmental Affairs Director, Century Link. (Attachment 5)
The Chair closed the neutral portion of the hearing. The Chair closed the hearing.
