Ohio Republicans Selling Out To AT&T

The Senate's Energy and Public Utility Committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a bill that would create a single statewide standard for video service providers. Sought by media giant AT&T, the bill would wipe out local municipality franchise agreements with pay-TV providers in favor of the statewide agreement. The legislation has drawn fierce opposition from municipal officials worried about provisions that would allow video service providers to serve only parts of a community. Public-access backers are also concerned about language limiting the number of public-access and government channels.