Video Choice Act of 2005

H.R. 3146, the Video Choice Act of 2005, aimed to make it easier for new companies to offer television and video services by removing the requirement for them to obtain individual local government franchises. Instead, companies that already had the legal right to use public rights-of-way (such as telephone companies) could provide video services without negotiating separate agreements with every municipality. For citizens, this bill was intended to increase competition in the cable market, potentially leading to lower monthly bills and more choices for television providers. While companies would be exempt from local franchising, they would still be required to pay fees to local governments based on a percentage of their revenue.