And speaking of statewide studies, thanks to Ann Higgins at the League of Minnesota Cities for sending me a heads up on HF2351.

The plan is to study the impact of state cable franchising laws that have been implemented in at least three states with a report to the 2009 legislature next January. The bill was amended again earlier this week when it was included in state budget recommendations from the House Energy Finance Division. The study would be funded at $85,000, with the funding for the study to be transferred to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota in order to have a study conducted through the U of M.

The bill is now set to be included in the House supplemental budget legislation to be passed out of the House Finance Committee today. The Senate took no similar action on the companion to HF 2351 (SF 2216 – Sparks), which was not heard in committee once Qwest announced that it would no longer be taking the lead to urge passage of the bill. It remains to be seen if the study will be in the final supplemental budget legislation that emerges from the 2008 session.