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from: NorthJersey.com

Verizon faulted over lack of access

CLIFTON -- If you pick Verizon, you won't get City Council meetings. Or Board of Education meetings. Or any other event transmitted over Clifton's public access channel.

from: NJ.com

Vineland denies Comcast
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
By JASON LADAY
jladay@sjnewsco.com

VINELAND -- City council voted to deny Comcast's application to renew their 15-year contract with the city during its regular meeting Tuesday night.

Comcast of South Jersey LLC, Vineland's only cable provider, has had a 15-year contract with Vineland giving the company franchise in the city.

from: The Daily Record

Big hang up: Verizon fails to offer users local access

Some subscribers say stations were to be available right away

BY MICHAEL DAIGLE
DAILY RECORD
Sunday, June 17, 2007

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Cable TV subscribers switching to Verizon from their town-licensed provider are losing access to the local, free channel used by the public, educators and local government.

Note: Excellent analysis of what can go wrong in state franchising - the devil is in the details.

from: Trenton Times

Cable watchdog

Saturday, April 07, 2007
BY PHYLLIS SALOWE-KAYE

or many in New Jersey, the battle over state vs. municipal franchises to foster competition in the cable market ended with the governor's signature on the sweeping new law. The decision was made to allow Verizon to provide cable television service without a local franchise, in the belief that new competition will lower cable rates for consumers.

from: Asbury Park Press

More bucks spent on lobbying, or is it just more disclosure?

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/9/07

BY GREGORY J. VOLPE
GANNETT STATE BUREAU

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TRENTON — Money spent on lobbying in New Jersey nearly doubled last year, as state leaders grappled with the beleaguered budget, tried to reform a tax system that has yielded the nation's highest property tax bills and voted to allow competition for cable TV services.

A celebratory Verizon press release on their NJ roll-outs. The pricing appears to be the same as local cable offerings (is this what they mean by ‘choice and competition’)? We'd love to hear stories from NJ and elsewhere on local pricing levels, service and PEG carriage (write us at info@saveaccess.org). Verizon also introduced state franchise bills in NY and MA last week . . .

from: PR News Wire

from: North Jersey.com

Verizon's North Jersey cable debut looms
Saturday, December 16, 2006

By MARTHA McKAY
STAFF WRITER

TV viewers in many North Jersey towns could get a choice of cable TV provider as early as next week.

from: Courier Post

Opinions voiced on Verizon cable plan

By LISA GRZYBOSKI
Courier-Post Staff

CHERRY HILL
The final state Board of Public Utilities public hearing on Verizon's application to sell cable television directly to consumers attracted a mix of supporters and detractors Tuesday.

Note:Red-Lining Alert!
from: Asbury Park Press

Verizon needs to start producing cable network maps

BY ABIGAIL CAPLOVITZ FIELD

Verizon plans to bring cable competition to 316 New Jersey towns, promising choice, lower prices and better service. Sounds great. Unfortunately, Verizon's cable service application to the state Board of Public Utilities doesn't support its pro-consumer rhetoric. The information to back up its promises is missing.

See the note at the bottom "Actual (throughput) speeds will vary." It's hard to imagine a press release from any other utility engaged in deregulatory legislation to so boldly assert that their service may be uneven and vary. Imagine a electric utility advertising that "brownouts may occur".

from: Earth Times