Save Access

from: Keep Us Connected

Hearing and Possible Vote on HB 1500
When: Thursday, May 24 at 10 a.m.
Where: Capitol Building, Room 118, Springfield, Illinois

As originally written, HB 1500 is harmful to the people of Illinois. The Illinois Telecommunications Committee continues to work with the Illinois Attorney General's office, municipalities, public, educational and government (PEG) access TV centers, and other parties on an amendment to HB 1500. Work continues on the original form of HB 1500 in order to protect public access channels and to bring meaningful competition and consumer protections to Illinois residents. Click here for original draft of HB 1500.

Note: The reality of "competition=lower prices" finally sets in - too late. It really means the prices are "competitive" meaning the same. In addition PEG channels bear a greater cost with less income. And eventually the entry level price for 'basic cable' will skyrocket because once a competitor enters a local market the FCC will lift local municipal authority over the regulation of basic cable pricing.

from: MultiChanne News

FiOS Hits Houston, But Without TV

(Multichannel News) _ Verizon Communications Friday will begin to push fiber-optic FiOS service to residents in the Houston area, but for now, the telco is offering Internet and voice services around the Bayou City, not video.

from: Nashville Scene

Cable Wars
While King Kong and Godzilla fight, public access stations try not to get flattened

by Jim Ridley

When David fights Goliath, everybody has a rooting stake in the underdog. But what happens when one Goliath opens a slingshot of whoop-ass on another? For many people, it’s hard to work up much outrage for the current battle royale on Capitol Hill over cable franchising legislation—a tussle that essentially pits AT&T’s Engulf vs. Comcast’s Devour, with Tennessee cable subscribers watching only to see which hairy foot will be the one to land on them.

from: Knox Views

AT&T cable bill clears Senate Commerce Committee
Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2007/05/23

Tom Humphrey files this report. There was some drama involving e-mails, high-profile lobbyists, and an exchange between an AT&T lobbyist and Sen. Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville), who objected to being called an "obstructionist." He voted against the bill in the committee.

from: MultiChannel News

Court: Chicago May Collect Cable-Data Fee
Illinois Appellate Court Reverses Chicago Cable-Modem-Fee Ruling
By Ted Hearn -- Multichannel News, 5/22/2007 11:59:00 PM

Comcast owes the City of Chicago as much as 5% of its high-speed Internet-access revenue generated from all city-based data customers in the past five years, according to an Illinois state court ruling that conflicts with multiple court rulings on the same regulatory issue.

from: Know Views

Local cable control getting unplugged

I haven't been following the AT&T/cable legislation much, but bloggers Joe Powell and R. Neal have.

Joe Powell: As I've written before, I have no opposition to AT&T wanting to jump into the cable business - but to make that decision only after state law is altered, only after local control of cable franchises has been removed, provides no benefit to the consumer and muddles the procedures for how such franchises would be held accountable.

Mobilizing Your Community Against the Verizon Bill
In Time for the June 5th Hearing at the State House

from: Cambridge Community Television

Top 10 Reasons To Oppose the Verizon Bill

Massachusetts Senate Bill No. 1975, House Bill No. 3385
Read the bill here

1
The bill eliminates the power of LOCAL governments to negotiate cable franchises. negotiating power from the local to the state level. They are very mistaken. Read on to see why.

from: Newsday

N.Y. lawmakers considering cable competition bill
By MARK JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Increased cable television competition could be coming to New York state as lawmakers seek to lower consumers' bills.

Charles Bell, programs director for Consumers Union, said at a state legislative hearing Wednesday that in the 11 years since Congress passed the Telecommunications Act deregulating the industry, consumers nationwide have seen a 64 percent increase in cable rates under "monopolistic" cable pricing.