A legislative proposal to solve the stalemate between the state’s two biggest cable companies and the NFL Network and Big Ten Network is nothing more than political grandstanding, said a UW-Madison professor of telecommunications who follows cable issues closely.
“The state can’t force its way into a negotiation between two private companies,” said Professor Barry Orton, who advises many communities in their dealings with cable companies. “This bill would have zero impact. It’s just a chance for legislators to look like they care about their constituents.”