Save Access

from: Center for Digital Democracy

Washington Watch

AT&T/Bell South to Public: We Don’t Have to Pay Attention to the Public Interest, Just the Corporate Bottom Line

7 June 2006

The required "Public Interest Statement" that AT&T and Bell South filed with the FCC 31 March 2006 in conjunction with their proposed merger was notable more for what it didn't say than for what it did. While the 133-page statement was replete with references to the "enhanced efficiency" and "substantial cost savings" that the new Behemoth Bell will bring to the marketplace, conspicuously absent was any mention of how the public will benefit from the proposed union.

Update from SavetheInternet.com

Dear Coalition Member,

Here's a quick update on the SavetheInternet.com Coalition.

*VOTES IN WASHINGTON*

*Summary:*
This week there will be a pair of important votes on Net Neutrality. The first occurs Wednesday afternoon during a back-room meeting of the House Rules Committee. Rules will decide whether to allow the full House to vote on pro-Net Neutrality legislation later this week. If Rules allows Net Neutrality to the floor, a second vote could occur as early as Thursday evening, when every House representative has a chance to vote on the issue as an amendment to the COPE Act.

from: CentreDaily.com

Public Access Television
Live, from Philly, it's ... zip. Still.

Has it been only three years since Mayor Street's administration endorsed launching a public-access cable television station in Philadelphia?

And only two decades since the city's cable franchise law established the legal framework for a TV outlet for amateur broadcasters?

Note: Indiana just passed a state-wide video franchise bill and already Time Warner is threatening to limit PEG delivery under the new legislation. This same scenario played out in San Antonio, Texas (see: this site) where the Time Warner PEG services and channels went off air after that state-wide bill passed. Anyone who still believes state and national video franchises won't impact PEG need only look at these two precedents.

from: All HipHop

Rappers Can't Save You - The Death Of The Internet
Bruce Dixon of Black Commentator

America’s Black misleadership class, which is nearly indistinguishable from its Black business class, has struck again. In a stunning coup, a mainline African American voting rights group has been enlisted on the side of AT&T and other telecom monopolies in their legislative push to privatize the Internet and roll back hundreds of agreements with local communities that force these monopolies to extend Internet and cable service to poor and rural communities around the country.

from: The Hill

Telecom group spends big to raise industry profile

By Jim Snyder

The lobbying expenditures of the U.S. Telecom Association (USTA) have risen almost as fast as the TVs that soar through roofs in the group’s ubiquitous ad campaign.

Five years ago, USTA spent just over $2 million on lobbying. By last year that figure had risen to nearly $17 million, making the group the sixth biggest spender on K Street and a major contributor to a revival of telecom and high-tech lobbying.

Note: Even if HR5252 and S2686 are delayed this Congressional session, the Telcos are succeeding in getting what they want at the state level.

From: Technology Daily

States Taking The Lead On Telecom Law Overhaul

By Michael Martinez

(Monday, June 5) State lawmakers have not waited on their federal counterparts this year for legislation to overhaul existing telecommunications statutes.

Email & Call Congress! | Tell Your Friends!
The House schedule lists a vote on the COPE bill (HR.5252) as early as Wednesday, June 7, though most observers think Friday is the day. If you haven't written and called Congress - this would be a good time. Be sure to tell your Congress person to vote NO - and tell them to stay around long enough to actually cast the vote - most typically leave Washington before Friday! Everything you need to take action is here. More updates below from the Alliance for Community Media and NATOA.

from: Broadcasting and Cable

Markey, Dingell Plan Build-Out Amendment

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/6/2006 3:01:00 PM

Dubbing the issue "universal service," some top Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats have told their colleagues they plan to introduce an amendment establishing build-out requirements in the House video franchise reform bill, scheduled for a floor vote this Friday, June 9.

from: Multichannel news

Esser Sermonizes on Franchise Reform
By Karen Brown6/6/2006 5:58:00 PM

Chicago -- Cox Communications Inc. president Pat Esser turned his podium into a pulpit at the Globalcomm telecom convention here Tuesday, delivering a stern sermonlike keynote accusing Bell competitors of trying to gain a regulatory free pass into video to make up for their own delays in developing those services.