WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/12/07) - The Video Competition Act has been passed by the Wisconsin State Assembly. The Assembly voted to approve Assembly Bill 207 (12/11/07) and is being credited for taking decisive action to pass the legislation. TV4US Wisconsin, which has been working hard toward getting the Video Competition Act through the legislative process, and TDS Telecommunications, are two of the interested parties that are pleased Wisconsin viewers will now have the opportunity to choose from competing cable services.

TV4US Wisconsin Executive Director Thad Nation had some thankful and appreciative words to say:

“By passing the Video Competition Act, the State Assembly has put consumers first in Wisconsin. The competition created by this bill will provide real choices for consumers and end the cable companies’ monopoly on service throughout Wisconsin,” Nation said.

“It’s now up to Governor Doyle to sign this bill, and bring the benefits of competition to fruition for cable subscribers across Wisconsin,” Nation pointed out.

Drew Petersen, Director of Legislative and Public Relations for TDS Telecommunications Corporation indicates he and his company are looking forward to the impact the Video Competition Act will have.

“State policymakers, led by Assembly Utilities Committee Chairman Phil Montgomery (4th-Green Bay), have recognized the importance of telecommunications in spurring economic growth and consumer choice in our state," Peterson said.

“To that end, the bi-partisan legislative approach to stimulating video entertainment competition in Wisconsin gets a step closer to public law," Peterson continued.

"Undoubtedly, passage of AB 207 will make Wisconsin more competitive with our Midwestern neighbors and will go a long way toward protecting consumer pocket books," Peterson said.

Governor Doyle and his administration have been actively involved with the negotiations, improvements and refinements made to AB 207 as it passed the Senate and, now, the Assembly, by substantial margins.

"We appreciate the governor’s thoughtful review of the legislation and encourage him to support this common-sense regulatory reform,” TDS's Peterson said.

TDS Telecom, a growing national company headquartered in Madison, Wis., brings high-quality, locally based telecommunications services to hundreds of rural and suburban communities across the United States. The company, along with its subsidiary TDS Metrocom, provides service for more than 1.2 million access line equivalents.

TDS Telecom is part of the Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (AMEX: TDS) family of companies. TDS is a diversified telecommunications corporation founded in 1969. Through its strategic business units, U.S. Cellular (AMEX: USM) and TDS Telecom, TDS operates primarily by providing wireless and local telecommunications service.

TDS currently employs approximately 11,600 people and serves approximately 6.4 million customers in 36 states.