Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, introduced legislation known as measure AB 2897, the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006, to the California legislature Thursday aimed at providing telephone companies to get state franchises for their IPTV services.

As usual, the cable companies stated that this would allow the telephone companies to cherry pick areas for their service. Nunez's response was interesting, "Some say (the phone companies) are only going to deploy broadband into rich communities and the poor communities are going to be left behind. Nothing could be further from the truth. Minority communities are among the most loyal and consistent customers for in-home entertainment in California."

The next step is for the measure to be considered in the legislative process.

For more information check out either of these articles: "Núñez says bill will cut cable TV prices" or "Bill would give cable companies high-speed Internet competition".