NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Senate has unanimously approved a proposal to create statewide TV cable franchising and has sent the bill to the governor's desk.
The Senate approved the House version of the bill on a 29-0 vote with little debate. The measure pushed by AT&T Inc. is the result of two years of negotiations with the cable industry and local governments.
Local governments had worried about losing control over setting cable rules and the fees generated from those permits. Cable companies had argued it was unfair that AT&T circumvent the existing rules to be able to offer their services statewide.
Gov. Phil Bredesen, who has mostly stayed out of the debate over the proposal, has not said whether he plans to sign the bill into law.
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(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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