from: MultiChannel News

Fla. Statewide-Franchise Bill Heads to Gov.
Assembly Follows Senate’s Lead, Passes Franchise-Reform Bill

By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 5/1/2007 2:23:00 PM

By a 117-2 vote, the Florida state Assembly concurred with the state's Senate, now sending a franchise-reform bill to Gov. Charlie Crist.

from: MultiChannel News

Iowa Franchise-Reform Bill to Governor’s Desk
Incumbent Video Providers Will Be Able to File for State Regulation After July 1

By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 5/4/2007 12:39:00 PM

A franchise-reform bill that will let incumbent video providers file for state regulation as soon as a competitor files to serve the local community is awaiting the signature of Iowa Gov. Chet Culver.

Alas, objective and critical thinking always lands one a leftist label. Fortunately, we're accustomed to that when we venture into the dark side of american political discourse and the media industrial comlplex.

from: Spring City Chronicle

Cable: Point/Counterpoint

from: Pantagraph.com

Lawmakers head to Vegas for cable TV conference

By Kurt Erickson
kurt.erickson@lee.net
Advertisement

SPRINGFIELD -- It’s a weekend in Las Vegas for some Illinois lawmakers. With just a month left in the legislative session, an estimated 12 to 14 members of the Illinois House and Senate are spending the next couple of days at a trade show for the cable television industry.

Introductions: Mr. Wineke, please meet Mr. Bobby Rush, perhaps your personal foundations have a mutual interest?

from: Madison.com

State Democratic Party chief registers as lobbyist for AT&T on cable-TV bill WSJ

The chairman of the state Democratic Party has registered as a lobbyist for telecommunications giant AT&T, which is pushing for the Legislature to pass a bill that would ease its entrance into the state's cable TV market, the Associated Press reported this afternoon.

from: PR Newswire

Telecom Execs Planned Regulators', Lawmakers' Junket to Japan

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AT&T, Comcast and Verizon planned the agenda for regulators' and lawmakers' luxury trip to Japan last month, according to emails obtained by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR).

AT&T U-Verse offering 1 Year FREE of DISH Network

Originally posted on VoIP & Gadgets Blog
Yesterday, I was in Best Buy (Norwalk, CT store) walking past the TV section when I was approached by a guy standing by a table. He handed me some AT&T U-Verse literature and proceeded to pitch me on signing up for U-Verse. I mentioned that I didn't live in Norwalk, he asked where I did live and then he told me they didn't offer U-Verse in my area yet.

However, he stated that AT&T is offering a nice incentive - 1 year FREE of DISH Network service if I signed up now for AT&T U-Verse. I said, "Well, what if in one year from now you still aren't offering U-Verse in my neighborhood? Do I still get free DISH Network service?"

He didn't really give a good answer to the question, but did say that AT&T is going gangbusters to rollout U-Verse in Fairfield County, one of the wealthiest counties in the nation and also very densly populated. So I asked "So you're focusing on deploying in Norwalk and Stamford first is my guess, correct?" He responded, "That's exactly right. We're targetting Norwalk and Stamford first, but plan on quickly moving to other towns." He briefly mentioned New York - not sure if he meant NYC, but that would put AT&T in Verizon's home turf with their FiOS service.

I expressed my skepticism that AT&T would reach their goal of 18 million homes back in March. However, when compared to the $20 billion Verizon is spending to rollout their FiOS fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service, AT&T's fiber/copper-hybrid rollout is a bargain. AT&T can more quickly recoup their investment faster than Verizon since Verizon has to dig fiber all the way to the home where as AT&T only needs to draw fiber to the neighborhood and then use copper the rest of the way to the home.

from: Marietta Times

Council agrees to oppose cable regulation bill

By Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.com

Following some discussion, Marietta’s City Council on Thursday adopted a resolution opposing a bill in the Ohio Senate that provides for state regulation of local cable franchises.

from: Boca Raton news

State to franchise cable TV; Boca doesn’t like it

Published Friday, May 4, 2007
by By Dale M. King

After spending years working on a master ordinance to regulate cable television franchises, it appears Boca Raton will have to put that law on the shelf.

from: Tampa Bay Community Network

Governor Crist, Veto This Bill!

Dear Friends of Tampa Bay Community Network, your public access cable television station:

Recently, we wrote you for help to persuade the Florida Senate to vote against Senate Bill 998. Unfortunately, the Senate passed and sent it back to the House. It has now become House Bill 529, carries the misnomer "Consumer Choice Act of 2007" and is even worse than the earlier versions.