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Witnesses Announced for Video Franchise Reform Hearing

May 16, 2006  •  Post A Comment

Kyle McSlarrow, president and CEO of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, and Walter McCormick, president and CEO of US Telecom, are among the key witnesses slated to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee Thursday during hearings on video franchising reform.

Also on the witness list, the committee said Tuesday, are Michael Guido, vice chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors transportation and communications committee; Julia Johnson, chair of the Video Access Alliance; Gene Kimmelman, senior director of public policy for the Consumers Union; Shirley Bloomfield, VP of government affairs and association services for the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association; Steve Largent, president and CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association; Joslyn Read, chair of the Satellite Industry Association; and Philip McClelland, senior assistant consumer advocate for the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate.

The hearing will focus on legislation introduced recently by Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, that would make it easier for phone companies to get into the pay TV business.