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from: Badger Herald

State wants control of cable

by Keegan Kyle
Monday, March 12, 2007

In an effort to increase cable television competition across Wisconsin, legislators introduced a bill Thursday that would give state officials the authority to grant statewide video franchises.

from: JS Online

Bill would level playing field for TV programming providers
Only cable companies now held to franchise requirements

By DORIS HAJEWSKI

Posted: March 8, 2007

A bill that would eliminate municipal cable franchises and shift the approval process to the state was unveiled Thursday in Madison.

from: Capital Times

Cable TV bill called a blow to consumer
Critics say proposed law is riddled with problems
By Jeff Richgels

Consumers would lose what little protection they have under a proposed statewide cable TV franchising law introduced Thursday, critics of the bill said today.

Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO: Endorse Video Competition Bill

3/7/2007

Thursday March 8, 2007 Contact: Ann Crump, Communications Workers of America 414-525-4292

Groups Say Bill is Critical to Future of Union Telecom Jobs

Madison, WI – The Communications Workers of America (CWA-IUE), a labor organization representing more than 10,000 workers in Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO said Thursday they strongly support a bill that would promote video competition and encourage job growth.

Note: TV4US mentioned in this article is an astroturf organization funded by AT&T

from: Gazette Extra

Lawmakers introduce bill to increase cable competition in Wis.

(Published Friday, March 9, 2007 10:25:18 AM CST)

By Scott Bauer
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. - To increase competition in the cable TV market, lawmakers introduced legislation Thursday to make it easier for new companies to enter a community.

from: Broadband Reports

U-Verse, Lawsuits in Milwaukee

Wasn't avoiding franchises supposed to make the process easier?
Posted 2007-03-02 09:32:30 by Karl

With a tenuous agreement in place, AT&T launched U-Verse in portions of Milwaukee this week, though local lawmakers have been fighting the company's decision to avoid paying franchise fees since December.

from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

AT&T challenges cable TV, satellite
Internet-based U-verse won't pay communities franchise fees

By DORIS HAJEWSKI
dhajewski@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Feb. 28, 2007

AT&T is launching its Internet-based television service to compete with cable and satellite offerings in the five-county metropolitan Milwaukee area, and it is choosing not to pay municipalities for franchising rights or giving them any oversight, as cable companies do.

from: The Business Journal

AT&T launches Internet television in Milwaukee

The Business Journal of Milwaukee - 8:35 AM CST Wednesday, February 28, 2007
by Rachel McCormick-Jennings

AT&T Wisconsin has begun installing and providing its new Internet television product, U-Verse, in the Milwaukee market, despite a federal lawsuit filed by the city challenging the service's implementation here.

This page last updated 4/29/07
Recent State News via saveaccess: newswire

Bill Number(s): AB207/SB107
Read SB 107, Bill Status
Read AB207, Bill Status, companion to SB107

from: Waxing America

AT&T Seeks Wisconsin Statewide Video Franchise

A Senate hearing Wednesday was the first visible action on AT&T's push to have Wisconsin law changed to bypass municipalities and create statewide video franchises. Senator Plale's Committee on Commerce, Utilities and Rail held an informational hearing (no bill has yet been officially introduced) on AT&T's proposal to allow it to upgrade its network to offer a video product wherever it sees fit. AT&T and its lead Assembly advocate, Representative Phil Montgomery, argued for quick state action to avoid municipal delay and bring "badly needed" competition to Wisconsin consumers. Officials from large and small cities, cable industry representatives, and local access channel users defended the existing of local control, and called for fairness and reasonable deliberation on a complex and important issue. Don't count on it.