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from: Staten Island Live

N.Y. lawmakers considering cable competition bill

3/21/2007, 4:18 p.m. EDT
By MARK JOHNSON
The Associated Press

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

from: Poughkeepsie Journal

Plan for statewide cable franchise sparks opposition

By Jay Gallagher
Journal Albany bureau
Wednesday, March 21, 2007

ALBANY — A proposal to allow companies offering fiber-optic video compete more effectively against cable television for subscribers ran into opposition Wednesday from both cable-TV officials as well as from Verizon, which is building a fiber-based network in select communities.

from: Rockford Register Star

AT&T Backs IIlinois Video Franchise Legislation

From Rockford Register Star, March 21, 2007
By Kiyoshi Martinez

Two communication industry behemoths are battling over how TV programming gets to Illinois homes.

On one side, AT&T wants to re-enter the broadband market and compete directly with cable companies to supply video services — a market worth $32 billion nationally in 2006.

from: NAtional Journal

Telco Firms Scoring at the State Level

From National Journal, March 16, 2007
By Michael Martinez

The Democratic takeover of Congress may have complicated the federal lobbying plans of large telephone companies — but 2007 appears to be going well for them at the state level thus far.

from: MissouriNet

Video Franchise Bill Moves On Without Rural Provision
Tuesday, March 20, 2007, 5:41 PM
By Brent Martin

A bill that allows telephone companies to get into the cable TV business is on Governor Blunt's desk without a provision supporters touted as a way to bring high-tech to rural Missouri. Rep. Joe Aull (D-Marshall) has attempted to put back in a provision that would charge satellite providers a five percent franchise fee to fund technology grants toward rural economic development. Aull says rural Missouri is falling behind the more populated areas and needs to boost to stay competitive economically.

from: Globe Gazette

Senate OKs bill to ease cable TV competition

By Dan Gearino, Globe Des Moines Bureau

DES MOINES — Cable television providers would have an easier time entering the Iowa market under a bill passed Tuesday in the Iowa Senate, a measure that supporters say would lead to lower rates and greater options.

from: Iowa City Press

Cable competition could be on way

By the Associated Press
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

DES MOINES — The state could grant a statewide cable television franchise under a measure approved today by the Senate.

Supporters said the proposal would bring new competition to a monopoly industry and drive down consumer costs.

from: Missourian News

Channels would face funding issues
Bill doesn’t designate revenue for Columbia Access Television, other public channels after 2011

March 20, 2007

By EMILY RISTOW

With approval of the statewide video franchising bill by the Missouri General Assembly, Columbia Access Television and other public, educational and government channels throughout Missouri face a lack of guaranteed funding after Jan. 1, 2012.

from: http://www.keepusconnected.org/

Hearing on House Bill 1500 Thursday, March 22

As Illinois faces changes to video franchise laws, the Keep Us Connected coalition urges state legislators to protect the public interest.

By joining the Keep Us Connected coalition, you are supporting pro-community video franchise laws that:

from: MultiChannel News

Tax Battle Unites Enemies
By Linda Haugsted3/19/2007

The political season in Massachusetts is creating an interesting dynamic between the telephone and cable industries, which will fight tooth-and-nail on a cable franchise-reform bill this session but will link arms to fight Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to eliminate some decades-old personal property tax exemptions.