saveaccess's blog

WI: Cable TV bill called a blow to consumer

Posted on March 10, 2007 - 7:50pm.

from: Capital Times

Cable TV bill called a blow to consumer
Critics say proposed law is riddled with problems
By Jeff Richgels

Consumers would lose what little protection they have under a proposed statewide cable TV franchising law introduced Thursday, critics of the bill said today.

( categories: State Franchises | WISCONSIN )

MA: Overall Strategy

Posted on March 10, 2007 - 11:45am.

from: People First

Overall Strategy

Verizon has introduced a bill into the Massachusetts State Legislature which is a disaster in more ways than one could even count, and they are putting a full-court lobbying and media press on to pass it, with extraordinary local and national dollars behind it. We need to kill this bill, but it’s going to take a seriously organized effort to win.

AZ: Takeover language may scuttle Cox pact

Posted on March 10, 2007 - 11:38am.

Note: An example of what we can expect to see when state franchising rollouts imapact on current city-cable franchise negotiations.

from: Arizona Daily Star

Takeover language may scuttle Cox pact
By Rob O'Dell
Arizona Daily Star
Published: 03.10.2007

The up and down negotiations between the city and Cox Communications over its cable franchise look to be heading down again.

( categories: ARIZONA | State Franchises )

AZ: Takeover language may scuttle Cox pact

Posted on March 10, 2007 - 11:38am.

Note: An example of what we can expect to see when state franchising rollouts impact on current city-cable franchise negotiations.

from: Arizona Daily Star

Takeover language may scuttle Cox pact
By Rob O'Dell
Arizona Daily Star
Published: 03.10.2007

The up and down negotiations between the city and Cox Communications over its cable franchise look to be heading down again.

( categories: ARIZONA | State Franchises )

WI: CWA switches teams - backs AT$T in state franchising

Posted on March 9, 2007 - 11:12pm.

Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO: Endorse Video Competition Bill

3/7/2007

Thursday March 8, 2007 Contact: Ann Crump, Communications Workers of America 414-525-4292

Groups Say Bill is Critical to Future of Union Telecom Jobs

Madison, WI – The Communications Workers of America (CWA-IUE), a labor organization representing more than 10,000 workers in Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO said Thursday they strongly support a bill that would promote video competition and encourage job growth.

( categories: AT&T | State Franchises | WISCONSIN )

Top Secret Gov't Spying room revealed by AT$T Whistleblower

Posted on March 9, 2007 - 10:33pm.

Note: A new spin on this older story (May 2006), remember that the Justice Department and the FCC cleared the AT&T-Bell South merger well after the original story was broken. EFF still has a lawsuit pending against the NSA

from: AlterNet

Top Secret Gov't Spying room revealed by AT&T Whistleblower

WI: Lawmakers introduce bill to increase cable competition

Posted on March 9, 2007 - 10:29pm.

Note: TV4US mentioned in this article is an astroturf organization funded by AT&T

from: Gazette Extra

Lawmakers introduce bill to increase cable competition in Wis.

(Published Friday, March 9, 2007 10:25:18 AM CST)

By Scott Bauer
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. - To increase competition in the cable TV market, lawmakers introduced legislation Thursday to make it easier for new companies to enter a community.

Released FCC Video Franchise Rules Favor Telcos

Posted on March 9, 2007 - 10:27pm.

from: TVT Newsbytes

Released FCC Video Franchise Rules Favor Telcos

March 9, 2007

The full FCC order on video franchising was released this week, just shy of three months after it was approved in a 3-2 vote. The rules are aimed at helping telcos break into the video delivery game in the name of competition with cable and satellite distributors. The order limits the power of local franchise authorities, which FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said was necessary because LFAs regularly overstep their purview.

( categories: FCC Video Franchise )

NJ: More bucks spent on lobbying, or is it just more disclosure?

Posted on March 9, 2007 - 10:25pm.

from: Asbury Park Press

More bucks spent on lobbying, or is it just more disclosure?

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/9/07

BY GREGORY J. VOLPE
GANNETT STATE BUREAU

Post Comment
TRENTON — Money spent on lobbying in New Jersey nearly doubled last year, as state leaders grappled with the beleaguered budget, tried to reform a tax system that has yielded the nation's highest property tax bills and voted to allow competition for cable TV services.

( categories: NEW JERSEY | State Franchises | Verizon )

Oregon local governments decry impact of the new FCC rule on communities

Posted on March 7, 2007 - 2:09pm.

Oregon local government officials are united in decrying the severe and negative impact of the new FCC rule on Oregon communities.

March 6, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2007
CONTACTS:
Andrea Fogue – 503 588-6550 (Salem)
David Olson – 503 823-5290 (Portland)
Mary Beth Henry – 503 823-5414 (Portland)

SALEMand PORTLAND– Local officials throughout Oregon reacted today in opposition to the newly-released final version of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule on competitive video franchising which broadly pre-empts numerous longstanding local video franchising requirements and procedures. The new rule (approved in concept by the FCC December 20,2006 on a 3-2 vote) spells out the details of far-reaching action which voids or undercuts longstanding local authority, and calls into question hard-won public benefits—including requirements that all residents and businesses be served with advanced technology, and support for community channels be continued as previously agreed.

( categories: FCC Video Franchise )
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