FCC Gives Telco TV a Boost

Even when he’s on unsure legal ground, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin never seems to pass up an opportunity to make the big telco companies happy. His latest move was the approval of new rules for local video franchising processes, which include a 90-day deadline for local governments to either award or deny requests for video services. As Om points out today over on GigaOM, this is less about enhancing competition and more about making it easier for the telcos to shore up their sagging voice businesses by making it easier for them to offer video. Washington insiders expect a quick challenge from the cablecos or from local governments, who question the FCC’s jurisdiction in such matters.