Save Access

from: Animation Artist

Bill Stalls in Wisconsin

(Multichannel News) _ While most state legislatures have concluded action on cable-franchising bills, the one in Wisconsin is stuck, awaiting the outcome of a fight over the state budget.

The bill, which will move franchising authority to the state Department of Financial Institutions, was approved by the Assembly on a 66-28 vote in May. It was sent to the Senate, where it will be heard, possibly in the fall, by the Joint Finance Committee. But that apparently won't happen until the Democrat-ruled Senate and Republican-controlled Assembly can agree on a state budget.

Note: When the Low Power FM (LPFM) radio spectrum licenses were opened up for community use in the 90's, NPR sided with corporate media in opposing the FCC decision - and succeeded in eliminating thousands of potential new community stations (there is a bill in Congress to remedy this digression of broadcast ethics). Now NPR wishes to corner the market in the new high power radio license offerings by expanding the limitations placed on applications. NPR needs to understand that "public" is not a copyright they own - they also need a lesson in the difference between "public" and "community" and the role of democratic communications in each.

from: Enclave

Monday, September 10, 2007
AT&T Waves Investment Dollars to Leverage Favorable State Legislation

As a former lobbyist, AT&T Tennessee's new President must understand the power of money in the General Assembly. Now he seems to be using it to resurrect "video franchise reform" (VFR) which would not just promote competition for the cable industry; it would also centralize the marketing process by establishing state-wide franchising, effectively removing the power of municipalities to broker their own deals.

Note: This is tied to the NSA wiretapping case with telco complicity (Verizon, AT&T). Apparently it goes much deeper and is much more troubling that originally known. It is also more surreal - a new area where info gathering marketing techniques meet national security intelligence gathering.

from: NY Times

from: St Petersburg Times

TV channel shakeup causes stir
Local government officials worry the cable changes may reduce open access.

By BARBARA BEHRENDT, Times Staff Writer
Published September 7, 2007

State Rep. Rob Schenck questions the timing of the Bright House changes.

from: Bradenton Herald

Posted on Fri, Sep. 07, 2007
Cable channel change
Bright House switch should be affordable

Government-access TV programming was created in the early days of the cable era as an inexpensive way to provide average citizens easy access to the actions of their governments. Giving viewers a way to watch their county commission or city council in action was considered a small payback by cable companies for the privilege of stringing their cables through public rights of way so they could make big profits off people's love of commercial television programming.

from: Public Knowledge

Our Disgraceful Internet Policy

by Art Brodsky on September 6, 2007 - 8:48pm.

Earlier today (Sept. 6), the Justice Department filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opposing Net Neutrality. The DoJ, supposedly the protector of consumers and guardian of competition, said that “market forces” were sufficient to do both of those jobs.

from: Post Tribune

Comcast facing protests

September 8, 2007
By Carrie Napoleon Post-Tribune correspondent

Seven producers from Comcast's public access Channel 21 have formed the United Producers for Public Access to speak out against the telecom giant's decision to close its public-access studios in Hammond and Portage, as well as some of its bill payment centers.

from: Rocky Mountain news

Telcos await FCC action on broadband
Competition will suffer if Qwest wins, rival says

By Jeff Smith, Rocky Mountain News
September 8, 2007
Qwest Communications, AT&T and two other carriers are hoping to get federal relief next week from a requirement to sell high-speed services to competitors at certain rates.

from: Broadband Reports

FCC Attacks Exclusive Broadband Deals

From Broadband Reports, September 6, 2007

For months, AT&T and Verizon have been asking the FCC to ban cable operators from maintaining exclusive service contracts with the owners of apartment buildings, developments and MDUs (multiple dwelling units). When the phone company asks for something, the FCC delivers: