Over the objections of the cable industry, Texas lawmakers gave
final approval last week to a measure that would make it easier
for phone and other companies to offer television services in
local communities, the Associated Press reported.  The
telecommunications bill would allow phone companies, such as SBC
Communications and Verizon Communications, to avoid the
thousands of local cable TV licenses that cable companies must
acquire.  Phone companies are investing billions to upgrade
their local networks to deliver television programming and
faster Internet connections. They say such services would be
stalled if individual licenses were required in each
municipality.  Texas is one of several states that have
considered the issue, with phone and cable companies engaged in
a furious battle. The bills in Texas and other states would let
phone companies and other providers get a pay-TV franchise from
the state instead of from each city.  The cable industry
contends the bill would give big phone companies unpreced