MUMBAI: US media regulatory body The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will on Wednesday vote on whether to make it easier for telecom firms like Verizon and other parties to obtain cable franchises

Media reports quote FCC Chairman Kevin Martin saying that local franchise authorities at times obstruct and in some cases completely derail new attempts to bring video competition to an area.

The measure, which will not be made public by the agency until after the vote, has alarmed local franchising authorities, which contend action by the agency may wind up hurting consumers.

New subscription television providers like the telephone firms reports state must apply with thousands of American cities and towns for permission to offer the service and they have complained that the process could take years.

The FCC will vote on a plan to limit local authorities to 90 days for reviewing most applications and restrict demands that providers offer unrelated services to cities such as installing playgrounds and streetlamps.