Save Access

from: Slate

Has AT&T Lost Its Mind? A baffling proposal to filter the Internet.
By Tim Wu
Posted Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, at 10:15 AM ET

Chances are that as you read this article, it is passing over part of AT&T's network. That matters, because last week AT&T announced that it is seriously considering plans to examine all the traffic it carries for potential violations of U.S. intellectual property laws. The prospect of AT&T, already accused of spying on our telephone calls, now scanning every e-mail and download for outlawed content is way too totalitarian for my tastes. But the bizarre twist is that the proposal is such a bad idea that it would be not just a disservice to the public but probably a disaster for AT&T itself. If I were a shareholder, I'd want to know one thing: Has AT&T, after 122 years in business, simply lost its mind?

from: Boing Boing

Talking About AT&T's Internet Filtering on AT&T's The Hugh Thompson Show
Posted by Joel Johnson, January 21, 2008 5:23 AM

from: Good Morning Flint

Wednesday, January 16, 2008
GMF 1/16/08

GOOD MORNING FLINT! 01/16/08

BY Terry Bankert http://attorneybankert.com/
posted first at http://flinttalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=22988#22988

Public access!...A REPRIEVE!!! Paul Herring of Flint is leading a revolt. He wants Comcast cable customers to boycott the company. [FJ011508 ] Thousands of Genesee County residents enjoy the Public Access programing on channel 17 Comcast. Comcast a monolply is obligated to public acess ,hoodwinked the stae legislature and has almost taken it away from us.[trb] The cable company planned to move PEG channels in Michigan into the 900 range, which would require subscribers to buy digital, cable-ready TVs or rent or buy a digital converter box for each analog set they own.[Cen01/15/08] Comcast Cable is a regulated monopoly essentially because at its inception they needed public property to string their cable, in exchange we got public access programing. By a state law slight of hands or campaign contributions the state legislature let them run away with our access to television. Ask a State Rep How did you let this happen?[ trb]

Note: Well this won't be the first time. AT&T once bought up several of the largest cable companies becoming the largest cable provider in the process - only to change course and sell at a 50 billion dollar loss. Instead they bet on their newly designed U-verse system, complete with exploding street-side telco boxes, buggy microsoft software and day-long national outages. But it's a company with deep pockets and stock analysts that look the other way, they can always buy the cable companies back again. Tennessee legislators should take note!

Note: An older post, but worth revisiting given the recent interest in ConnectKy.

from: The Red, Blue and Green

Friday, December 21, 2007
ConnectKentucky should get lump of coal

This is a subject I first addressed a few weeks ago but it continues to deserve our attention. The background is that this organization, whose members are generally the big, rich, telephone companies and privately owned cable companies, ConnectKentucky, is hanging around our state legislature looking to siphon off our tax revenues for their own selfish purposes. They have been quite successful at this in the past. During the last couple of legislative sessions they have already been successful in getting millions of our tax dollars by claiming that they have a magic potion that results in more broadband facilities being built for the people of Kentucky.

Note: An older post, but worth revisiting given the recent interest in ConnectKy.

from: The Red, Blue and Green

Tuesday, December 4, 2007
ConnectKentucky Wants Your Tax Dollars

This is sort of a "rerun" post. I first commented on this topic back in August when I was first experimenting with the creation of this site. However, now it is on the front burner again because ConnectKentucky is trying to ram a piece of legislation through the next session of the Kentucky Legislature aimed at further enriching some of its members.

from: The Tennessean

Aide's new job raises no flags for Bredesen

By BONNA JOHNSON • Staff Writer • January 18, 2008

Gov. Phil Bredesen said he sees no ethical conflict with his communications director leaving his staff to work for a public affairs firm that represents AT&T, which is engaged in a fierce legislative battle with cable companies.

from: KnoxNews

Bredesen may weigh in on cable-permitting fight
Governor says broadband coverage isn't adequate
ERIK SCHELZIG
Associated Press
Friday, January 18, 2008

NASHVILLE - Gov. Phil Bredesen said Thursday that he may get involved in a contentious proposal to change cable-permitting rules in Tennessee to encourage broadband access around the state.

from: Nashville Public Radio

WPLN News Transcripts
Produced daily by your WPLN News Staff

Governor Says He’ll Push For Broadband Expansion

Thursday, January 17th, 2008

Governor Phil Bredesen says he’s not on the side of either AT&T or Comcast in their fight over a state franchising bill. The governor says instead, he’s focused on the availability of broadband computer coverage in Tennessee. He says the concurrent coverage isn’t adequate.

from: Light Reading

NYC Still Waits for FiOS
JANUARY 17, 2008

After two years, an agreement that could let Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ - message board) bring FiOS TV to New York City is getting close -- but not that close.

A recent report in the New York Daily News citing unnamed sources said that a cable franchise agreement between the City of New York and Verizon was being hammered out and that a deal was "going down now." That might not be completely accurate, however.