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frm: Kane County Chronicle

Officials: Boxes increase awareness

By KAREN LONG - klong@kcchronicle.com

GENEVA – Some concerns that Geneva officials had about a bill for state-issued authorization for cable and video services might be addressed through amendments.

from: Blandin on Broadband

Rural New England is Getting Redlined

Redlining has been an issue that has emerged in the Statewide Cable Franchising hearings (mentioned earlier in this blog). According to The Nation (Broadband Redlining Targets Rural America) rural areas are right to be concerned about redlining. They recently featured a story on Verizon and their plan to sell off (some might say sell out) “low-value” landline customers to focus on FiOS, Verizon’s branded FTTH service.

from: Grand Rapids Community Media Center

CMC announces reduced hours as details of new state cable franchising rules hit home

File under Television | Link to this item
Posted 5/10/2007

GRAND RAPIDS — Starting Monday, May 14, 2007 the Community Media Center will be operating on a reduced schedule, due to a funding interruption brought about by new Uniform Video Franchising legislation recently enacted by Michigan lawmakers. Because of this one-time funding loss, CMC is forced to reduce its total hours of operation by nearly 20 hours per week.

from: Knox News

TV cable bill piles up lobby costs

Funds spent for and against measure total $2M each side

By TOM HUMPHREY, tomhumphrey3@aol.com
May 16, 2007

NASHVILLE - Lobbying in support of legislation to revise state cable television law has cost almost $2 million, roughly the same amount as lobbying against it, according to disclosures filed Wednesday with the Tennessee Ethics Commission.

from: National Journal

Lawmakers Ponder Promise Of Web Video

By Andrew Noyes

(Thursday, May 10) Billionaire dot-com veteran Mark Cuban told lawmakers that the Internet has matured in recent years, but warned that unless there is significant investment, further technological and economic advancements will be hampered.

FROM: National Journal

Verizon Wants Protection On Surveillance

By Winter Casey

(Monday, May 7) Companies that cooperate with government in anti-terrorism surveillance programs should be given some legal protection, a telecommunications industry official said.

In terms of surveillance, Verizon Communications cannot acknowledge whether the company has engaged in such activity, said Tom Tauke, the executive vice president for public affairs, policy and communications. But he added that Verizon believes cooperating companies should have some kind of protection for their actions.

from: Olive Aurora

Save Channel 9

Published May 15th

What would you do without this valuable community resource?

Email Aurora’s State Senator Tom Sawyer!

Within the next 7 days, it is possible that the Ohio legislature will pass a bill that ends community television as we know it. That means no more HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, MAYORS REPORT, SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT SHOWS, HOLIDAY CONCERTS, MOORE MOVIES, TIME TO COOK etc. etc.

from: Nashville City Paper

The $4 million cable battle – so far

By John Rodgers, jrodgers@nashvillecitypaper.com

AT&T, in its battle against cable companies and local governments to get into the television business, has spent $1.55 to $1.6 million on lobbying expenses inside and outside the state Capitol, according to records filed Tuesday with the Tennessee Ethics Commission.

from: WDEF.com

Cable Competition, Could Tuesday Be Time To Vote?

Submitted by Joe Legge on May 14, 2007

I promised to keep you updated on the "Cable Competition" bill proposed in the Tennessee Legislature. I haven't forgotten. There just really isn't much new to report. Lawmakers continue to hold hearings on the matter, hearing from AT&T, Comcast, Charter, and a host of other entities involved.

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.