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from: Illinois Issues

Stay tuned on cable bill
Tuesday, May 29, 2007

A measure posing AT&T against local cable and telephone companies could come to light soon in a House committee, where it’s been stalled for more than a month. The House Telecommunications Committee met Tuesday morning but recessed to “the call of the chair,” allowing sponsor Rep. James Brosnahan, an Evergreen Park Democrat, to reconvene the committee as soon as the compromise language is ready to go. He said he hopes that would happen in the next two days.

from: Leader Telegram

Pull the plug on cable bill
Updated: 5/27/2007

The issue: The state Legislature considers a bill supporters say would increase cable competition.

Our view: The bill is deeply flawed. It would strip local control, harm public access channels - and there's no guarantee cable rates would drop.

from: Houston Chronicle

May 24, 2007, 8:44PM
A crisis at public access TV
By LISA FALKENBERG

Half-hour from downtown, turtles float, alligators sun and birds bathe in Armand Bayou.

Houston has the most successful Crime Stoppers in the world, helping solve 1,152 cases last year.

from: Post Crescent

Video franchising a front-yard issue
Grand Chute leader wary of AT&T's roadside cabinets

By Ed Lowe
Post-Crescent staff writer
Posted May 27, 2007

GRAND CHUTE — Town Administrator Mark Rohloff concedes the state battle over the so-called video competition act won’t be decided by concerns about neighborhood aesthetics.

from: Lafayette ProFiber

Just Not True: Cable Rates Not Falling in Texas

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Here's something to think about:

Competition has not led to lower basic cable-rates in Texas. (MultiChannel News)

That's the long and the short of it according to a study by the Texas chapter of NATOA.

from: Eagle-Tribune

Counterpoint: Local control means better cable service

Eleanor L. Pye

In early June, Massachusetts Senate bill 1975 will be voted on to determine whether cable franchising will be negotiated at a state level or remain at the local level. The text of the bill begins, "An act promoting consumer choice and competition for cable service." This statement, and the subsequent bill, could not be further from the truth.

from: Eagle Tribune

Point: Cable competition means lower prices
Eagle-Tribune

Jack T. Yunits

The video franchise reform legislation now before the Massachusetts Legislature could power one of the greatest economic engines our state has seen in a long time. By streamlining the cable franchising process created 30 years ago, Massachusetts can finally introduce genuine cable competition, and welcome the myriad benefits of a growing broadband economy. The cable companies are understandably opposed to the bill - their monopolies will be forced to compete for now-captive customers, after all.

from: MultiChannel News

Reform Off Table in Tennessee

By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 5/28/2007

Citing opposition from local governments, the sponsor of a bill to reform cable franchising in Tennessee has withdrawn the legislation for the session.

The bill could be resubmitted next year, but sponsor Rep. Steve McDaniel (R-Parkers Crossroads) told the Associated Press that he wouldn't push the issue of reform unless he sensed a “change of attitude” by city and local officials who fought the bill. Cable incumbents had formed a coalition with the local governments to fight the bill.

from: PEG Clippings

AT&T:0 - Public Interest:1
Three Cheers for the Volunteer State!

Yesterday the push for establishing statewide video franchising in Tennessee failed - at least for the 2007 legislative session. Here are excerpts from some of the major press accounts, and links to a few of the others. The credit seems mostly due to the individual and collective work of local municipal officials. Thanks to ACM members Frank Bluestein (Germantown), Alan Bozeman (Murfreesboro), Elliott Mitchell (Nashville), and Dave Vogel (Knoxville) for their good work helping to man the barricades and repel the assault. - rm