tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post115113163968889187..comments2024-02-10T05:18:09.354-05:00Comments on The Libes Libation: No Shows All AroundDon Libeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396665796257950441noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post-1151500927534247092006-06-28T09:22:00.000-04:002006-06-28T09:22:00.000-04:00Don,Didn't Gaithersburg make their own deal direct...Don,<BR/>Didn't Gaithersburg make their own deal directly with Comcast rather than working through the County? What are the advantages and disadvantages for them? Do Gaithersburg residents pay the same cable rates as residents in other parts of the County?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post-1151373579304182072006-06-26T21:59:00.000-04:002006-06-26T21:59:00.000-04:00Don,I agree with most of what you said. The only t...Don,<BR/><BR/>I agree with most of what you said. The only thing I would like to add is that the bills are farther along in the process. Currently the House has already passed the Franchise bill by a large margin and the senate version is in full committee mark up. They had one session last Thursday and are scheduled for another on Tomorrow at 10:00. The committee said there were allot of titles to cover.<BR/><BR/>I expect that we could see this bill leave committee this week and go to the senate floor. My guess would be that it will definitely be voted on before summer recess and if it passes the senate could go to joint committee for true up between the two houses by the end of July. <BR/><BR/>The bill could stall there but I think there is enough muscle and desire for this to be finished before elections.<BR/><BR/>That being said the house bill has a provision that a franchise be granted or denied within one month of application. If that sticks you could have cable TV in MC before the end of the year. Lot of if's.<BR/><BR/>I think that Verizon will not come back to the MC table until they know how the National bill is going to play out. So I believe that you are correct and that there very well may be no progress for awhile. My guess is a min of 4 months (election time).<BR/><BR/>In case you want to see the committee notes 2nd from the bottom.<BR/><BR/>http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.ByMonth<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the diligence. Please keep it up.<BR/><BR/>Chris in KensingtonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com