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from: DSL Reports

The Truth Behind The Baby Bells & 'Franchise Reform'
State legislators drunk from promises of lower TV prices

from: Iowa City Press

Franchise bill worries some city leaders
Fear losing local control of cable deal

By Hieu Pham
Iowa City Press-Citizen
Friday, March 23, 2007

The state may be moving forward with a cable television franchise touted by supporters for breaking monopolies and lowering consumer prices, but local officials say they are concerned about another effect of the bill.

from: Belleville News Democrat

Blunt signs cable competition bill into law
DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Legislation intended to give Missourians a greater choice of television service providers was signed into law Thursday by Gov. Matt Blunt.

The new law will make it easier for traditional telephone companies such as AT&T Inc. to start offering video service over their fiber-optic wires in competition with existing cable TV companies.

Alert!

Late last night HB 227 passed in the House and was sent to the Senate. Senator Schafer (404-656-0048) is the Chairman of the Regulated Utilities Committee. Please call Senator Schafer’s office and every Senator on the attached list. It is imperative that we let them know we are opposed to the state video franchise bill and it is not good for ALL Georgians because of the issues below:

from: Capital Times

Statewide cable report rapped
By Jeff Richgels
The Capital Times

A new report from a conservative think tank that backs proposed statewide cable franchising is based on false assumptions, a critic said today.

The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute's report, prepared for release today, asserts that consumers on cable's basic and expanded basic tiers could save up to $149.01 yearly on their bills if cable competition were allowed.

from: St. Petersberg Times

Consumers lose with pay-TV bill

By A TIMES EDITORIAL
Published March 21, 2007

The Florida House would have you believe the barrier to competition in the cable television business is the concessions that companies must make to local governments in exchange for using the public right of way for their wires. The real barrier for companies is the expense of building that network and the time it takes to sign up enough subscribers to recover the cost. That's why the bill pushed again this year by state Rep. Trey Traviesa remains fundamentally flawed.

from: MultiChannel News

Missouri Gov. Expected to Sign Franchise Bill

From Multichannel News, March 22, 2007
By Linda Haugsted

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt is expected to sign a bill that will assign video franchising authority to the state’s Public Service Commission.

from: Naples News

House Refuses to Change Video Franchise Bill in Florida

From Associated Press, March 22, 2007
By Bill Kaczor

The House refused on Wednesday to weaken a bill designed to make it easier for telephone and other telecommunications companies to compete for cable television business with existing providers.

from: Surburban Chicago News

Cities lining up to fight state control of cable TV

March 18, 2007
By STEVE LORD and Heather Gillers STAFF WRITERS

GENEVA -- Pete Collins is wearing a path between here and Springfield.

The information technology person for the city of Geneva is one of many representing municipalities throughout the state at hearings in the State Capitol about House Bill 1500, known as the Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007.

From City of Geneva, March 20, 2007

Illinois Municipal Broadband Communications Association letter of opposition to HB 1500

March 20, 2007

Dear Chairman Brosnahan & Members of the Telecommunications Committee:

My name is Peter Collins and I am the President of the Illinois Municipal Broadband Communications Association, as well as the Information Technologies Manager for the City of Geneva and a citizen of Batavia, Illinois.