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from: Native Times

FCC Opens Window of Opportunity for Tribes to own Radio Stations

From Native American Times, April 9, 2007
By Tracy Wind

The world of radio is opening up a one week time window in which organizations can apply for a channel of its own on FM radio. For the first time in 6 years the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is opening up spots for future would be radio owners starting Friday October 12, 2007 to Friday October 19, 2007.

from: Chattanooga Times Free Press

Signal Council opposes video franchise bill

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

By Mike O’Neal Staff Writer

The Signal Mountain Town Council unanimously passed Monday night a resolution opposing a statewide video franchising bill now before the state legislature.

from: Journal News

Fairfield against change in cable deals

By Michael D. Pitman

Staff Writer

Monday, April 09, 2007

FAIRFIELD — While city officials are still trying to get a franchise agreement with Time Warner Cable, an Ohio Senate bill introduced last month may nix it — along with all other cable franchise agreements in the state.

from: My DD

Big Telecom Screws CWA, Everyone Else

by Matt Stoller, Mon Apr 09, 2007 at 06:20:54 PM EST

I'm really angry about net neutrality right now. It's conventional wisdom that there will be no net neutrality legislation moved this cycle, which is completely fucking ridiculous. There's an open universal wireless broadband and cell phone network that the US could implement in 2009, but the FCC's Kevin Martin really wants to give it away. Meanwhile, the broadband providers are starting to impose cell phone like restrictions on their service, beginning with those lovely early termination fees that we all love. And Google and the internet companies are laughably incompetent in their lobbying capacity (this comes from the leadership of those companies, who find DC dumb and dirty and neuter their lobbyists).

AT$T has been offering dish TV as a substitute in most of it's service areas (as part of a triple play package). Verizon has been doing this to a lesser extent too in the northeast. It would make sense for AT$T to buy out one of the DBS providers since it has no plans for widespread fiber deployment beyong new luxury construction (investor flashback - AT&T once bought a major cable company then sold it at a loss).

from: MultiChannel News

Locals Sue Over 90-Day Rule

By Linda Haugsted 4/9/2007

The Federal Communications Commission's recent order requiring local governments to approve applications from new video providers within 90 days represents an “abuse of discretion” and violates federal law, according to petitions for review filed April 3 by a coalition of local government groups.

from: Shelbyville Times-Gazette

Cable TV bill takes legislative spotlight
Monday, April 9, 2007
By Clint Confehr

State Rep. Curt Cobb is holding a hearing today in Nashville on what's been dubbed the AT&T bill to create statewide franchises for cable TV companies instead of having them licensed by cities and counties.

from: Daily Herald

Cable plan riles towns, Proponents say more competition would result

BY HARRY HITZEMAN
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Saturday, April 07, 2007

Springfield lawmakers expect changes to a controversial bill that cities fear will give companies like AT&T carte blanche over where large utility boxes are located.

from: The Beacon

Cities, towns safeguard video consumer rights

From The Beacon, April 2007, Vol. XXXIII, #4

Municipal leaders are working mightily to balance local budgets, protect essential local services, restore local aid, pass the governor’s Municipal Partnership Act, reduce the property tax burden, and build a broader public understanding of the dramatic need to reinvest in cities and towns. This is valuable and necessary work, as our state’s economic future hangs in the balance.

from: MPN Now.com

Cable change: less control, less revenue?

By COLLEEN M. FARRELL
Messenger Post Staff
Posted: Apr 4, 01:00 PM EDT

A bill in the state Assembly could increase cable competition.

Before the Internet, there was public access.

Those channels, provided through cable companies, have been used by governments and communities to broadcast everything from town meetings to school events and parades.