SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) made the following statement this evening regarding the Assembly’s passage of AB 2987 – The Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act – which he jointly authors with Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles):

“Tonight’s passage of Assembly Bill 2987 to the Governor’s desk gets us one step closer to billions of dollars in new, private investment pouring into California. Enabling this investment to occur will deliver huge benefits to all Californians.

“AB 2987 will save California consumers money. When only one company is allowed to provide a service, prices rise. Choice brings competition, and competition will bring prices down. The big winners will be California’s consumers.

“The Speaker and I have carefully drafted this legislation to:

• Provide a fair and level playing field for all market competitors that does not advantage or disadvantage one service provider or technology over another;
  
  
• Promote widespread access to the most technologically advanced cable and video services for all California communities in a nondiscriminatory manner regardless of socioeconomic status;
  
  
• Ensure market participants comply with all applicable consumer protection laws;
  
  
• Ensure continuation of access to and maintenance of the public, education and government (PEG) channels;
  
  
• Increase opportunities for programming that appeals to California’s diverse population and many cultural communities through video service competition; and
  
  
• Compensate local entities for the use of the public rights of way – the franchise fee is intended to compensate them in the form of rent or toll.
  

“I urge the Governor to follow the Legislature’s lead and approve this important piece of legislation.”