Save Access

from:Matt Stoller

Squishy House Dems to Sell Us Out on Internet Freedom?

by Matt Stoller, Wed May 31, 2006 at 12:44:43 PM EST

Last week was a big week for the internet freedom folks. We won a vote in the Judiciary Committee for the Sensenbrenner-Conyers Bill (HR5417) to preserve internet freedom. For those who haven't been following, the basic gist of the issue is that the government has always set basic rules for the wires that carry internet traffic. These rules don't let the telcos that manage those wires block anyone's traffic, and we want to keep it that way. The telcos want to be able to block traffic and web sites so they can favor some services over others, so they want to strip the FCC of the authority they have to enforce these rules. The business and political case is clear. Senior telco execs have publicly discussed slowing down Google's web site if Yahoo pays them, for instance. There are political implications as well; a Canadian ISP have blocked the web site of a union striking against them. Telcos have always hated the internet, and now that they see the opportunity to put up tollbooths everywhere and make the internet work as clunkily as cell phone service, they are trying to seize it through their massive political leverage.

A new report issued by the Alliance for Community Media shows clearly how much support would be lost to Public, Educational and Governmental Access communities (PEG) under bills now being considered by Congress.

From: The Beacon News

Whose channel is it anyway?
Towns, feds fight to control communications providers

By Heather Gillers
Staff Writer

Fox Valley towns are criticizing a proposed federal law that would transfer some of their power over cable television providers to Washington, D.C.

What this article fails to mention is that the current Public, Educational and Govenernmental (PEG) channels are often the primary source for providing ongoing local electorial and debate coverage. Eliminate these PEG channels and facilities and you eliminate the providers of this content. Additionally, digital 'on-demand' content doesn't require the elimination of existing channels.

from: Wall Street Journal

from: Technology Daily

Firms Fork Over Funds For Cable Rate Campaign

By Heather Greenfield
(Friday, May 26)

Telecom companies are spending serious green on advertising in recent weeks alerting Congress and their staffers to what they call a serious cause -- a grassroots campaign for lower cable and broadband rates.

from: Star Tribune

Our View: Local cable and all its services are threatened

Rick Talbot And Steve Larson

CTV-15 celebrates its 15th anniversary this month but may have to close its door soon after that if proposed federal legislation becomes law.

For 15 years, CTV has provided equipment and training for more than 3,000 residents of the cities of Arden Hills, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Little Canada, Mounds View, New Brighton, North Oaks, Roseville, St. Anthony and Shoreview to produce their own video programs. Cable subscribers in these 10 cities have had an opportunity to watch high school football and city parades, local hockey games and public hearings on the disposition of the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) property, as well as concerts of the St. Anthony Civic Orchestra, the Roseville Community Band and the Northern Lights Variety Band. From "Disability Viewpoints" to "Trek Talk," local community producers have had an opportunity to share their interests and their passions with their neighbors.

Another state in the sights of Telco state franchising efforts. If you have contacts in North Carolina, alert them to this news ASAP. See www.ncccmc.org for more info/

Friends,

A bill in the N.C. House of Representatives, HB 2047, "The Video Service Competition Act", would eliminate local government authority over cable TV franchising, consolidating the power to grant local video franchises in Raleigh.

from: Technology Daily

Key Senate Democrat Unveils Draft Telecom Legislation

By Sarah Lai Stirland

(Thursday, May 25) The top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee -- Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii -- issued a draft bill outlining his views on how telecommunications reform legislation should take shape, even as the panel continues to work on a proposal by Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska.

from: Broadcasting & Cable

Christian Coalition Backs Net Neutrality

By John Eggerton
5/29/2006

The Christian Coalition fears a possibly pro-choice telco board might slow access to its pro-life messages.

The group supports amending telecom reform/video franchise streamlining legislation to put some statutory muscle behind FCC principles championing open access to the Internet.

NATOA ACTION ALERT

A TALE OF TWO TELECOMMUNICATIONS BILLS

ISSUE:
I. House of Representatives
The Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement (COPE) Act of 2006 under consideration in the House would strip local governments of their authority to franchise their public rights-of-way for video/cable services and impose a national franchising scheme. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would oversee and second-guess all local rights-of-way management practices and customer service issues. It would allow new market entrants to pick and choose the neighborhoods they want to serve while bypassing all others completely.