Save Access

from: Southeast Missourian

Cable's future up for grabs in Cape
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
By TJ Greaney

Cable television in Southeast Missouri is about to change for good.

New legislation means competition is on the horizon for current monopoly-holder Charter Communications, while municipal oversight and funding for public access channels are both in jeopardy.

This was the vote last summer on S2686 (later named HR5252) in the 109th Congressional Session: 15-7 with all 12 Republicans and 3 Democrats voting for the bill. The new Democratic majority will hopefully alter the equation in this session.

from: Multichannel News

Q/A with Nick Miller, Miller & Van Eaton

Nick Miller is an expert in the law and policy governing cable television and telephone regulation, and in the legislative aspects of communications law. He represents local governments, airports, and national local government associations in cable television and telecommunications matters. He has worked extensively with international multilateral agencies engaged in telecommunications policy advice to developing countries. Miller talked to Focus on Customer Care about franchising. An edited transcript follows:

from: Ars Technica

FCC votes on cable franchise reform this Wednesday

12/18/2006 1:45:24 PM, by Nate Anderson

The rules for local video franchising could be changing this Wednesday. At the agency's open meeting this week, Commissioners will "consider a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Section 621(a)(1)'s directive that local franchising authorities not unreasonably refused to award competitive franchises." If that's the sort of language that makes your eyes glaze over, then it's time to hit the coffee pot, because this could be big news for AT&T, Verizon, and other telecom firms that want to enter the television market.

from: Broadband Reports

Fighting AT&T
The battle over franchise agreements

Posted 2006-12-18 14:24:21 by Karl

If you ask telco execs, lobbyists and the FCC, local video franchise agreements are the worst kind of bureaucracy. Towns are little more than greedy parasites that make absurd demands at every opportunity and rarely have local residents' interests in mind. Telco lobbyists suggest that the existing franchise system needs a lobotomy, and by replacing the current system with statewide or federal system, they can speed up next-gen broadband and IPTV deployment.

from: Broadcasting and Cable

Washington Watch
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/18/2006

Video-Franchise Law in Neutral

Telephone companies spent millions of dollars pushing for national video-franchise reform that would allow them to more easily compete with cable in video and broadband access.

Microsoft is the software provider for AT&T's cable system set-top box - they stand to gain from imposed video franchise legislation.

from: Lasar Letter

Microsoft tells FCC what it wants for Christmas

by Matthew Lasar Dec 12 2006

Microsoft executives spent much of the first week of this month at the Federal Communications Commission, meeting with Commissioners and staff. Not only did they lobby for specific regulatory policies, they outlined a broad agenda for the FCC to follow in the years ahead.

Celebrate - then call the FCC!

from: SavetheInternet.com

Huge Victory for Real People as Telco Bill Dies

The gavel has fallen on the 109th Congress marking the demise of entrenched corporate efforts to legislate away our Internet freedoms — and a stunning victory for real people who want to retain control of the Internet.

from: MyDD

On Building a Progressive Governing Coalition Around Net Neutrality

by Matt Stoller, Wed Dec 06, 2006 at 12:59:58 PM EST

Last year, we could throw wrenches into the works and call it a victory. This year, we're going to try to govern, and this means that we actually have to accomplish stuff. And based on what I'm seeing on the net neutrality front, the progressive movement has a lot of work to do. Take net neutrality for instance.

from: Austin American Statesman

COMMENTARY

Williams: In defense of local control

Chad Williams, AUSTIN COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

After 22 consecutive years of telecommunications deregulation, the law that ensures consumer protection and local control is in jeopardy.