*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 55514.doc* STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN KEVIN J. MARTIN Re: Annual Assessment of the Status of Competition in the Market for the Delivery of Video Programming, MB Docket No. 05- 255 In enacting the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, Congress sought to promote video competition. Competition in the market for video programming serves to improve quality and customer service, increase consumer choice, decrease prices, and promote innovation. As this year’s report reflects, we are seeing wired competitors to cable trying to enter the market. The Commission should facilitate this entry, not only because it furthers video competition, but also because it promotes the deployment of the broadband networks over which the video services are provided. The widespread deployment of these networks is critical to the United States’ international competitiveness. Further, it will help improve Americans’ lives through applications such as distance learning and remote medical diagnostics. Given all of the benefits that additional competition offers for consumers, we will continue to closely monitor the progress of all new entrants and seek to eliminate any unreasonable barriers to entry and to address other issues that we find impede such progress. 1