Video

Government regulation plays a role in consumer choice

Overview

Over the last 80 years, the world has witnessed a revolution in the way that video is used to communicate, educate, and entertain. As the decades have progressed, video technology has morphed from obnoxiously large television sets with black and white screens to live, full-color, streaming content available on small, portable, wireless devices like the iPhone.

Now that video technology has the capability to transmit digitally via wireline and wireless platforms, consumers have more options than ever before. Today, consumers can choose from a multitude of video providers, making video services more competitive than ever. While the technology now exists to provide these competitive options, government regulation plays a large role in whether or not consumers are able to take advantage of these new choices.

Competition in Video Services

During the 2007 Missouri legislative session, the Mid-American Communications Alliance fought hard to convince lawmakers that video franchise reform would bring lower prices, better service, and more choices to consumers. With the help of our organization’s nearly 25,000 supporters in Missouri, we succeeded in our effort. The Missouri General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for competition and consumer choice, and Governor Matt Blunt signed Senate Bill 284 in March of 2007.

As we move forward, MCA will continue to encourage policymakers in an effort to bring consumers the best available technologies to the citizens of the states we represent.

For more information about the consumer benefits of video competition, read the op-ed by Mid-American Communications Alliance Executive Director, Todd Abrajano, “Evidence Proves Video Competition Benefits Consumers”.