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from: The Tennessean

Ethics opinions find two lobbying violations
PR firm, ex-Bredesen adviser could be fined

By THEO EMERY and JENNIFER BROOKS • Staff Writer • March 25, 2008

State lobbying rules may have been violated in two high-profile legislative fights, one over Internet wine sales and the other over cable television regulation, according to the Tennessee Ethics Commission.

from: The City Paper

AT&T, cable crafting compromise
By John Rodgers, jrodgers@nashvillecitypaper.com

Lengthy negotiations between AT&T, the cable industry and local governments over AT&T’s bid to offer television services in Tennessee are close to complete, and the final product may cause a first for the telecom giant in the southeast.

from: The Tennessean

Players in cable fight make big donations to legislative campaigns

By THEO EMERY • Staff Writer • March 23, 2008

AT&T and the major cable companies poured campaign donations into the coffers of Tennessee lawmakers last year.

Most came in the last weeks of 2007, just before the fundraising cutoff at the January start of the legislative session. Under the state's 2-year-old ethics laws, lawmakers cannot raise money during the session.

from: The Tennessean

AT&T approached states after U.S. franchise failed
Bill would bypass local contracts

By THEO EMERY • Staff Writer • March 23, 2008

Tennessee's battle over cable franchising is not unique.

After an attempt to establish nationwide cable franchising failed, AT&T went to work in legislatures across the country to seek statewide access to cable markets, said Bob Williams, the director of HearUsNow.org, a Web site of the Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.

from: PC Magazine

Operational Funds, Debt Pay for AT&T Spectrum

03.21.08

by Chloe Albanesius

AT&T will be dipping into operational funds and accruing debt to pay off its recent spectrum purchases, according to government filings.

AT&T spent $6.6 billion to acquire 227 licenses in the Federal Communication Commission 's (FCC) 700 MHz spectrum auction, which ended Tuesday. The company already handed over a $500 million down payment prior to the start of the auction, but must pay an additional $827 million by April 3, according to paperwork filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

from: The Chattanoogan

City Council Moves Closer To Backing AT&T Bill
Littlefield Says He Welcomes Cable TV Competition
posted March 18, 2008

The City Council is moving closer to backing a bill sought by AT&T allowing it statewide franchise rights leading to development of a cable TV system.

From: New Teevee

Note: Apparently Comcast (now the #4 telephone company) is working overtime to pass AT&T as the most hated telco.

Comcast Cameras to Start Watching You?

If you have some tinfoil handy, now might be a good time to fashion a hat. At the Digital Living Room conference today, Gerard Kunkel, Comcast’s senior VP of user experience, told me the cable company is experimenting with different camera technologies built into devices so it can know who’s in your living room.

from: Yahoo News

DISH may plan mobile TV with new airwaves

By Sinead Carew and Peter Henderson Thu Mar 20, 8:46 PM ET

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - DISH Network Corp's (DISH.O) surprise win of wireless airwaves in an auction may be the first step toward building a mobile television service or a bet on a scarce commodity by CEO Charlie Ergen, analysts said on Thursday.

from: NY Times

March 22, 2008
Hopes for Wireless Cities Are Fading
By IAN URBINA

PHILADELPHIA — It was hailed as Internet for the masses when Philadelphia officials announced plans in 2005 to erect the largest municipal Wi-Fi grid in the country, stretching wireless access over 135 square miles with the hope of bringing free or low-cost service to all residents, especially the poor.

from: Broadband Reports

House Denies Telecom Immunity
Issue may stay unresolved while Bush is in office
11:03AM Saturday Mar 15 2008 by KathrynV

The U.S. House of Representatives held their first secret meeting in twenty five years yesterday in order to vote on an issue of long-standing contention: Bush’s FISA wiretapping bill. The House ultimately voted to go ahead and pass surveillance legislation that would strengthen the regulations on allowing the government to proceed with warrantless wiretapping. It requires upfront approval for most future wiretapping and creates a bipartisan subcommittee to investigate the questionable wiretapping that took place after 9/11.