Save Access

from: MultiChannel News

Public Access TV Group Sues Fla. County

Tampa Non Profit Cites First Amendment in Suit Over Funding Dispute
By Kent Gibbons -- Multichannel News, 10/1/2007 10:55:00 AM

The non-profit corporation that operates a public-access channel called Speak Up Tampa Bay is suing Florida’s Hillsborough County for cutting channel funds, saying the county used budget woes as a pretext to censor constitutionally protected speech.

from: MultiChannel News

AT&T Files to Become ‘Competitive Video Provider’

Connecticut AG Opposes Application As Telco Says State Law Provides ‘Clarity’ to Continue U-verse TV Rollout
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 10/1/2007 2:19:00 PM

AT&T filed an application Monday with the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control to become a “certified competitive video provider,” a new designation provided for under a state franchise-reform law. Meanwhile, the state’s attorney general continued to oppose treating the company any differently from incumbent cable providers.

Note: If AT&T takes their own Terms of Service agreement seriously, they will have to disconnect all their subscribers.

from: Ars Technica

AT&T threatens to disconnect subscribers who criticize the company

By Ken Fisher | Published: September 30, 2007 - 11:00PM CT

from: Neiman Watchdog

Corporate-funded research designed to influence public policy

COMMENTARY | October 01, 2007

Reports by well-known think tanks and individuals funded by telecoms are helping quash competition, increase phone rates and set up a corporate-oriented Internet system. Is there any reason to trust these reports? Or to trust experts who testify before regulators without revealing the sources of their funding?

Note: This report riddled with inaccuracies and misleading conclusions is from one of our favorite astroturf think tanks. Heartland provides the industries that fund their 'research' with persuasive reports for misleading legislators.
from: Heartland Institute

Opponents Slow Video Franchise Reforms

Note: another case of state franchising eliminating PEG from analog and basic cable channel offerings. Basic cable, still regulated until competition is proven, is the most accessible cable package for senior and low income residents who often benefit most from the locally orientated and service related PEG TV offerings.

from: WMNF Radio

Note: OK, we confess to creative license on the title alteration, but frankly we're very tired of seeing these self-laudatory corporate press releases being picked up by local press as fact and as evidence of corporate benevolence on the part of the telcos' recent legislative scams. AT&T, like Verizon, is making a fortune off such misinformation and deceit. With their merger with SBC, AT&T promised to cut 10,000 jobs right off the bat, then there's the multi-million dollar contracts with the NSA and FBI to violate your privacy, finally, as in Ohio, they've succeeded in deregulating the cable TV market and are now eliminating the residents' First Amendment Rights by de-funding public access and PEG TV. Also note, the Internet Innovation Alliance is funded by AT&T and likely is nothing more than a staff of three PR agents copying and pasting these press releases. But we digress - on to the self-celebratory corporate text . . . hooray for competition and DSL quality broadband!

from: Blogging Broadband

Adrian, Michigan Files Complaint Against Comcast

It’s been almost nine months since Michigan’s “Uniform Video Services Local Franchise Act” became effective. The third complaint under that new law was filed by the City of Adrian, Michigan late last week.

Although anxiety has been building for some time over the positions being taken by Comcast, Adrian’s complaint was the first to be filed under the new law against the nation’s dominant cable company. According to the pleading, Comcast’s actions violated at least two sections of the new statute. First, Comcast allegedly represented to the Michigan Public Service Commission that the City had taken no action on the company’s Uniform Franchise application in the first 30 days, and, therefore, that the Uniform Franchise had been approved by operation of law. According to the City, however, a finding had been made that Comcast’s application was incomplete — Comcast simply ignored the conclusion and represented the matter differently to the MPSC.

Note: Another case of Telcos behaving badly - in this case to get out from under regulated price caps on business service. With all the talk of the need for faster and more widespread broadband build-out to facilitate struggling local economies - this should help immensely.

from: National Journal

from: IndyBay

When Will Public Access TV Come to Fresno?
by Mike Rhodes
Tuesday Sep 25th, 2007 5:24 PM

Now is the time to SUPPORT PEG access in Fresno.

When Will Public Access TV Come to Fresno?
By Mike Rhodes

Efforts to establish Public, Education, and Government (PEG) programing on the cable network in Fresno have been underway for over six years now. What happens in the next month or two will determine whether or not individuals and community groups will have an opportunity to produce and broadcast programs on Comcast cable.