THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 13, 1994 TAG: 9408130318
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF AND WIRE REPORT
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Bell Atlantic Corp. contends the cable television industry is using delaying tactics to keep it out of the cable TV market in Hampton Roads and other areas.
In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, Bell Atlantic said the cable operators have asked the FCC to wait for nine judicial, legislative and regulatory actions before allowing competition in the cable TV industry.
The cable companies want the FCC to delay action even though the federal agency has already said the public would benefit from the introduction of video services from telephone companies.
The filing, the latest battle between the phone and cable industries, comes days after a cable group announced plans to buy more than $2 billion worth of equipment that will convert their one-way cable networks into two-way networks. The equipment would allow the companies to start voice services and compete directly against Bell Atlantic and the six other regional Bell operating companies.
Last month, the FCC approved Bell Atlantic's commercial video dialtone service in Dover Township, N.J. With video dialtone technology, the Baby Bells can offer cable TV services, giving customers a choice for cable services.
Bell Atlantic is waiting for FCC approval for its video dialtone plans in Hampton Roads and five other mid-Atlantic metropolitan areas. The company has said it wants to begin offering some video services in Hampton Roads by next year.
While the Bells have to wait approval to offer video dialtone, the cable companies are attacking the Baby Bells' lock on the $90 billion-a-year local phone market.
The cable companies don't need approval from the FCC to construct phone networks - although in many states, including Virginia, they must get state regulatory commissions' approval to actually offer most local phone services.
Earlier this week, Cox Cable Communications Inc., Continental Cablevision Inc., Comcast Corp. and Tele-Communications Inc. said they plan to spend $2 billion to offer basic and wireless phone, high-definition television and computer on-line services over a combined network. MEMO: Bloomberg News Service contributed to this report.
by CNB