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from: Telecom Web

Gov't Lawyers Blast Telecom Bill's State Pre-Emptions

At least 41 attorneys general have told the U.S. Congress they "strongly oppose" provisos in pending telecom legislation that would, in their opinions, pre-empt states from enforcing consumer-protection laws applicable to wireless carriers and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers.

from: Technology Daily

Last-Minute Lobbying Intensifies On Telecom Overhaul Legislation

By David Hatch

(Tuesday, September 19) Supporters and opponents of deregulatory telecommunications legislation are engaging in last-minute lobbying efforts to block, pass or alter the measure before Congress adjourns.

from: Wall Street Journal

Stevens Embraces Telephone Poll

Pollsters hired by Verizon Communications Inc. presented a study today that suggests consumers overwhelming reject “net neutrality” Internet regulations but they support Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens’s voluminous bill that rewrites many of the nation’s communications laws.

from: MY DD

Industry Shill Polling Coming Out on Net Neutrality

by Matt Stoller, Mon Sep 18, 2006

I've got my hands on some poor quality polling done by the Glover Park Group and Public Opinion Strategies on net neutrality. It's being passed around on the Hill by the telecom shills.

Here's a sample question:

from: Common Dreams

FCC Scandal Explodes with Second Revelation of Suppressed Media Ownership Research

by Robert W. McChesney

Last week, Sen. Barbara Boxer rocked the re-confirmation hearings for Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin when she released a suppressed FCC study from 2004 – leaked to her by an FCC whistleblower – that indicated locally owned television stations did far more local news programming than TV stations owned by big conglomerates. A former FCC lawyer acknowledged that agency officials ordered the report and all supporting material be destroyed.

Senator Stevens effort to get enough votes to push his Telecommunications Bill (ATOR HR 5252) to the Senate floor has reached a new low point. On Sept 18th, Stevens released an opinion poll on the US Senate Commerce Committee web site that shows that Americans want better cable service for lower prices – quite an insight! Unfortunately for Stevens, the poll also clearly demonstrates that those polled know little about the issue at hand, much less the details of his telecommunications legislation.

from: Telecom Web

Is It Back To The Drawing Board For Pending Telecom Reform?

The number of senators doubting the passage of telecom legislation this session continues to grow.

"We only have three weeks," said Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.), featured this past weekend on C-SPAN's "The Communicators" show (which will encore tonight at 8 p.m. on C-SPAN 2.) Noting that some lawmakers are threatening a filibuster over net neutrality, Sununu predicted Congress will return next year to "take a look at the lay of the land and perhaps craft a new piece of legislation."

from: TV Week

Former FCC Head Powell Responds to Report Flap

Former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell said he knows nothing about the quashing of an agency study that would have undercut his push to loosen media ownership rules.

The 2004 study, unveiled by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., at a Senate hearing Tuesday, was produced under Mr. Powell as part of the FCC’s look into how media-ownership affects television news programming.

Note: An interesting case challenging city use of franchise fees, which may or may not be used to administer the franchise and local PEG channels/facilities, as in many cities. A number of outcomes are imaginable, including: "consumers win franchise battle, save $2 a month but lose local, governmental and free speech cable channels".

from: Multichannel News

from: Broadcasting & Cable

FCC's Martin Talks To Wall Street

By John Eggerton
Broadcasting & Cable, 9/14/2006 5:59:00 PM

The FCC hopes to wrap up an proceeding on video franchise reform by the end of the year, Chairman Kevin Martin told analysts in a conference call Thursday.