
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 26, 1995                   TAG: 9505260088
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Short

CABLE TV BILL SENT TO HOUSE FLOOR

A House panel rejected efforts Thursday to protect consumers from potential increases in cable TV rates as lawmakers sent to the House floor the most far- reaching reform of telecommunications law in 61 years.

The House Commerce Committee scuttled a plan by Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., architect of a 1992 law regulating cable rates, to temper provisions in the bill that would dismantle protection against rate increases.

Later, on a vote of 38-5, the committee approved the overall bill. Supporters say the measure will benefit consumers by increasing competition, which they contend will lead to lower prices and greater choices in products and services. Opponents say the bill will lead to higher prices.

Markey's amendment, which was rejected 32-14, would have permitted cable rates at all but small systems to be deregulated only when another competitor with ``comparable video programming'' was authorized to compete against the local cable company.

by CNB