Save Access

NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

For immediate release: December 21, 2007

Contact: Jodi Seth or Carrie Annand, 202-225-5735
Chairman Dingell Challenges Comcast Decision Restricting Availability of Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) Channels

Washington, DC – Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, sent the following letter today to the Chairman and CEO of the Comcast Corporation regarding the company’s plan to require customers to lease additional equipment from Comcast to view public, educational and governmental (PEG) channels.

from: Eldo Telecom

Friday, December 21, 2007
Comcast applies for California video franchise

Comcast has joined cable providers Cox, Time Warner, Charter and Wave Broadband in applying for a statewide franchise with the California Public Utilities Commission under the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act that took effect in early 2007.

from: Madison.com

Prof: Don't hold breath for new services under state cable law

Jeff Richgels and Judith Davidoff — 12/22/2007 7:32 am

Gov. Jim Doyle's signing of the state cable franchising bill isn't likely to mean AT&T -- a leading backer of the bill -- will bring its U-verse TV service to the Madison area anytime soon, one prominent observer said.

Note the wonderful statement by Verizon's spokesperson:
"In a marketplace like this, oftentimes the competitor won't respond by lowering prices, but will respond in other ways" such as offering discounts as incentives to keep its service, said Gierczynski of Verizon.

from: Pittsburgh Live

from: Broadcasting and Cable

Local Groups Petition FCC to Stay Ruling on Video-Franchise Reform

"Groups say FCC decision will "severely restrict the ability of local governments to protect their citizens, rights-of-way, community channels, and public safety networks."

from: WISPolitics.com

Gov. Doyle: Signs cable competition bill
12/21/2007

Contact: Carla Vigue, Office of the Governor,
608-261-2162 or 608-575-8577

Improves Consumer Protection Provisions

MADISON - Governor Jim Doyle today signed Assembly Bill 207, legislation that will provide Wisconsin consumers with more cable service choices. The Governor also preserved protections for cable customers through several vetoes.

from: The Record Eagle

Published: December 21, 2007 09:30 am

Tctv2 supporters hope for better reception

By Melissa Domsic
mdomsic@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY -- Local officials are likely to pull the funding plug on public access television, but a private effort to raise cash could prevent the community channel from fading to black.

from: The Enquirer

State lets Cincinnati Bell offer cable TV in 3 counties
BY MIKE BOYER | MBOYER@ENQUIRER.COM

Cincinnati Bell Inc. on Thursday became the third company in Ohio authorized to offer cable TV service under a new state law designed to encourage cable competition.

Note: Our list of Telco 'worst' moments would be a bit longer - and includes items like the ongoing attacks on PEG, exploding telco dslam boxes, and heavy-handed and costly political lobbying. But this list is a good start and it's safe to say the telcos and cablecos need a bit more watching.

from: Huffington Post

from: Ann Arbor News

Ann Arbor to Fight Cable Switch

December 19, 2007
By Tom Gantert

Council Member Marcia Higgins, D-4th Ward, sponsored a resolution that calls on the Legislature to amend the state law to require cable providers to keep offering its public access and government channels in their customary channel slots.