Cable needs more competition

To the editor:

The news that Charter Cable is entering the phone market in Jackson is interesting. As a business owner, I know that competition in any industry spurs more choices, lower prices and better services. That's how competition works in a consumer-driven market. But it also raises this key question: If Charter can easily enter the telephone market, why can't telephone companies easily enter the cable market and provide much-needed competition in that industry?

Cable can enter the phone market because policy-makers created rules that made it easy for them to do so. The policymakers wanted to encourage competition. The system works, as phone customers today have many options for phone services. Yet policy-makers in Missouri have not created rules that would make it easy for other providers, including telephone companies, to enter the cable business.

During this year's Missouri legislative session, legislators had an opportunity to enact rules that would have encouraged the entry of phone companies into the cable market. But a few legislators opposed the measure, believing that rules that make it difficult for phone companies or any other provider to enter cable markets should remain.

Charter's entry into the phone market makes it crystal clear that new rules that encourage other providers to enter the cable market should be adopted. I hope all Missouri legislators will make this a priority during next year's session so that Missourians may enjoy more choices, lower prices and better services in the cable market.

MARVIN WORMINGTON, Jackson