Earlier this week, a U.S. District Court in Connecticut ruled that AT&T's U-verse would be subject to the same laws that are required of all new cable providers in Connecticut. The court said that AT&T must follow the country's Cable Act that requires "cable operators" to apply for local franchising and other state regulatory requirements before providing cable services.

This ruling overturns a decision by Connecticut's Department of Public Utility Control, which said AT&T's TV service did not fall within the federal definition of cable service, allowing AT&T to bypass local authorities.

This is an excellent decision by the court. Without local control AT&T can just cherry-pick the communities they want serve and exclude most poor and rural communities. Phone companies are making false promises that by ignoring local governments they will bring more competition to cable television and broadband Internet services.

Local authority over franchise agreements has brought many benefits to local communities, including public, educational and governmental access (PEG) channels; broadband access for government offices and schools; and requirements that service is offered to the entire community, not just its wealthiest neighborhoods. It’s crucial that any franchise agreements protect consumers and ensure affordable access to high-speed Internet and other services.