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Tell Illinois Representatives to OPPOSE Illinois House Bill 1500.
This Thursday, March 8, the Illinois House Telecommunications Committee will vote on the AT&T-backed Illinois House Bill 1500. HB 1500:

* Shuts down Public, Educational and Government (PEG) stations around the state
* Drops requirements that companies serve everyone
* Weakens customer service protections
* Harms fair competitions

from: Kreucher Law

The FCC’s Competitive Franchising Order: 109 Pages of Posterior Protection

It seems unusual to most in local government that a federal agency can take a vote on a document before that document is even made public . . . but that’s what the FCC did on December 20, 2006, when it adopted its Competitive Franchising Order on a 3-2 vote. The Commission finally released the Order yesterday . . . for those who are counting, that’s seventy-five days later. The Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, all 109 pages of it, can be downloaded here.

from: Massachusetts Municipal Association

FCC rules preempt local franchising authority

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Two and a half months after announcing new cable franchising rules, the Federal Communications Commission yesterday formally published the rules, which significantly limit the role of local governments in the cable licensing process.

from: Ars Technica

Telecoms get a break with new FCC franchise rules

By Eric Bangeman | Published: March 06, 2007

The Federal Communications Commission has published new rules governing cable franchising laws. Approved by a 3-2 vote in December, the rules should make it much easier for telecoms AT&T and Verizon to enter new markets. They are also likely to face a court challenge; more on that later.

from: Telecom Web

FCC's Video-Franchise Order Garners Mixed Reception

The Federal Communications Commission adopted and released its Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding video franchising, and the fur has begun to fly.

In the Order, the commission concludes that the current operation of the franchising process constitutes an "unreasonable barrier to entry that impedes the achievement of the interrelated federal goals of enhanced cable competition and accelerated broadband deployment." Here are a few of the "unreasonable barriers" cited in the Order:

From: Free Press

FCC Cuts Out Local Communities in Video Franchising Order

March 5, 2007

Today, the Federal Communications Commission released a “Report and Order” that would circumvent local control over video franchising and reject longstanding public interest requirements. Representatives of consumer, media reform and media policy groups made the following statements:

from: TV Week

Cities Challenge FCC on Cable Franchise Order

March 5, 2007
By Ira Teinowitz

The formal publication of an FCC order intended to jump-start competition by making it easier for phone companies to obtain local cable franchises has kicked off a major battle with the nation’s cities that could tie up the FCC’s order for years.

from: Denver Business Journal

Qwest lauds FCC's video franchising order

The Denver Business Journal Monday, March 5, 2007
by Bob Mook

Denver Business Journal

Qwest Communications International Inc. on Monday applauded an order from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would relax the restrictions local authorities can impose on cable franchising agreements.

from: Multichannel News

FCC Releases Cable-Franchise Order

By Ted Hearn3/5/2007 8:54:00 PM

The Federal Communications Commission Monday released a previously adopted order that gives local governments 90 days to reject or approve cable-service licenses sought by phone companies that already have facilities in city-controlled rights of way.

From: Florida Times

Consumer groups or covert lobbyists?
Groups with names that may mislead flock to telecom debate.

By Rebecca Catalanello, Times Staff Writer
Published March 5, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - More than a half-dozen people flanked Rep. Trey Traviesa as he announced his new legislation: "This is not a phone bill, a cable bill, a local government bill," he said. "It's a coalition endeavor, a consumer endeavor."