09/18/2006
CONTACT: Charlie Owens, (517) 485-3409
Survey shows small business wants more competition without local red tape
LANSING, Mich. -- The results of a recent member survey reveal that Michigan small businesses are not very sympathetic to the arguments made by local governments and cable TV providers against proposals to allow for a statewide franchise system.
In a survey conducted during the week of Sept. 11, 81 percent of NFIB/Michigan small-business members responded in support of legislation that would allow the state, not local governments, to develop a standard franchise agreement and franchise fee for television services by phone companies and others. Of those who responded, 10 percent opposed the legislation and nine percent were undecided. In addition to the survey question, background information and a pro-con argument were presented. (EDITORS' NOTE: Actual survey wording is available via the link below.)
"The survey indicates that our members believe that companies should be allowed to provide television and other video services without going through local governments," said NFIB State Director Charlie Owens. "It is clear that they feel the current system of local franchises inhibits competition and causes prices to remain higher than they would otherwise be."
Owens suggested that as telecommunication services begin to overlap each other (cable providing telephone and phone companies providing television, etc.) one of the biggest hurdles to competition and lower prices for small business is government regulation that protects some providers from competition from other providers.
"Although one may wonder what television service has to do with small business, keep in mind that more competition will result in an overall lowering of costs for all telecommunication services, including the ones most used by small business, such as telephone and high-speed Internet service," said Owens.
