Always Sunny in CA?

The CA cable industry has yet to pass judgement on statewide video legislation now headed to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s desk. "All of us are trying to be prudent until our people can really delve into this bill more deeply," said CCTA pres Dennis Mangers of bill AB 2987, which the legislature approved late Thurs. Mangers said there "will probably be a need for cleanup legislation." The CCTA has submitted to independent counsel for analysis the bill, which appears pro-cable, at least when compared to similar legislation in TX (Cfax 9/8). Unlike the TX law, the CA bill includes a clause through which incumbent cable ops may opt into statewide franchising. But the clause doesn’t kick in until ’08, making it difficult to know whether AT&T and Verizon can substantively roll out video services in the interim. Language in AB 2987 does, however, specifically bar Charter from using state franchising laws for its Santa Cruz County system until ’14 because of past involvement in federal legislation (Cfax, 1/13/04). Charter declined comment. San Diego powerhouse Cox thinks the bill offers "a level playing field" for state operators, a rep said.