Save Access

Public response to Upton's statement should be one of outrage.

from: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Key bill will be done in secret

By MARILYN GEEWAX
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/07/06

WASHINGTON — The House and Senate are preparing to vote on telecommunications legislation that could affect every American who surfs the Internet, watches cable TV or uses a phone.

from News Day

Draft ruling says AT&T can offer cable over phone lines
May 6, 2006, 12:32 PM EDT

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A draft ruling from the state Department of Public Utility Control would allow AT&T to offer television service over phone lines.

from: National Journal
Technology Daily
House Judiciary Chairman Demands Review Of Telecom Bill

By Drew Clark

(Thursday, May 4) The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee is vehement that his panel be able to review a telecommunications bill passed late last month in the Energy and Commerce Committee.

From MultiChannel News

AT&T Files More Lawsuits Against Ill. Towns
From Multichannel News, May 4, 2006
By Linda Haugsted

Four more Chicago suburbs were sued by AT&T Inc. for delaying plant improvements that will lead to a launch later of the telephone company’s video service.

The new defendants are Itasca, North Aurora, Wood Dale and Geneva. Suits were filed against the Illinois communities May 2 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Previously, AT&T sued the communities of Carpentersville, Roselle and Wheaton, Ill., as well as two communities in California.

from: Digital Destiny

Telco/Cable TV lobbying Blitz Costing Nearly $1 Mil Per Week in DC Market/ Big Bucks Spent to Pave Way for Broadband Monopolies

Everyone has seen the TV ads from both the phone and cable lobby urging Congress to support their plans to control the future of the broadband Internet in the U.S. Companies such as Qwest, Comcast, Time Warner, and AT&T want to be broadband barons—with all other content providers and users reduced to serving as merely consuming digital surfs.

From Gay City News

PERSPECTIVE/ THE MEDIA

The End of ‘Gay USA’ and All Public Access TV

BY ANDY HUMM

Congress is fast-tracking a bill that would severely cut back on the obligation of cable TV companies to devote channels to public access and fund the facilities to run them. If you care at all about preserving these precious community outlets, go immediately to saveaccess.org for the latest information on the bill and how you can stop it.

From: National Journal - Technology Daily

Provisions In Senate Telecom Bill Mirror Those In House Counterpart

By Drew Clark

(Tuesday, May 2) New Senate telecommunications legislation would take away the ability of local governments to reject video franchises -- effectively granting the former regional Bell operating companies the same expedited entry into video services as proposed in a competing House bill.

from: NY Post

PAID-FOR PUNDIT
By TIM ARANGO

May 3, 2006 -- Major U.S. newspapers often quote Jeff Kagan - regarded as one of the most influential telecommunications analysts - but invariably leave out the fact that he is paid by many companies in the industry to offer his comments to the media.

from Red Herring

Net Neutrality Counterattacks
New Democratic legislation end-runs Republican bills by giving Internet freedom the force of law.

May 3, 2006
Despite early setbacks, the Net neutrality forces are regrouping and their first major counterattack comes in the form of a new bill proposed by a group of Democrats that goes well past two other telecommunications bills by strictly barring phone companies from establishing Internet tolls.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Lauren-Glenn Davitian
CCTV Center for Media & Democracy
Davitian@cctv.org, 802.862.1645 x12

Michael Eisenmenger,
Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Michael@mnn.org, 212.757.2670 x333

COPE Act poses an immediate threat to “Community Access TV”, “Net Neutrality” and “Low Income, Rural, and Minority Communities—Redlining”

Proposed Telecom Bill, COPE, harms communities, consumers, and citizens. Communities must ensure broadband serves public interest.