Note: Video Access Alliance is a well known astroturf organization receiving funding from telephone companies for their activities. VAA doesn't represent public interest concerns on video franchise issues, they merely present the telco positions.

from: Pine Hill News [1]

Video Access Alliance
Wednesday, March 14th, 2007

The Florida-based Video Access Alliance will carry their nationwide message of lower cable television rates and video franchise reform back to the Florida Legislature. The Alliance plans to work closely with the Florida Legislature to help focus the discussion on how and why video franchise reform will provide extraordinary benefits to minority communities.

“We will plead our cause everywhere,” said Paula Hoisington, Spokes Person of the Video Access Alliance. “Floridians are ready for changes in cable costs and in the telecommunications industry in general and we intend to support legislation filed in Florida that will bring economic development to our communities, fairness and competition to video providers and consumers.”

“We will plead our cause everywhere,” said Paula Hoisington, Spokes Person of the Video Access Alliance. “Floridians are ready for changes in cable costs and in the telecommunications industry in general and we intend to support legislation filed in Florida that will bring economic development to our communities, fairness and competition to video providers and consumers.”

The Video Access Alliance (VAA) is a not-for-profit organization designed to serve as an advocacy and advisory group for independent, emerging and minority networks, video programmers, entertainers and other industry participants focused on policies that encourage rapid and ubiquitous deployment and utilization o f new and innovative video distribution platforms.

The Alliance believes that consumers should have more choices for their TV and entertainment services. As such, the Alliance encourages multiple platforms for delivering programming, and supports emerging and independent networks seeking outlets for programming, and promotes the elimination of regulatory barriers that would hinder competition, innovation and greater consumer choice.

Members of the VAA include a variety of network owners, video producers, video content distributors, media professionals and everyday citizens who all agree that opportunities for inclusion and participation are a necessary aspect of video franchis reform.

Central Florida communication entrepreneur Everlena Brown, a member of Video Access Alliance, believes, “The monopoly of video platforms is unconstitutional and conflicting.

Member Vincent “Mr. Speaker” Edwards, a Minister and radio talk show host in north Florida feels very strongly about the status of the telecommunications industry.

Edwards says, “The importance of removing unnecessary barriers to entry into an industry that generates billions of dollars and has great influence is critical.

Doron Gorshien, CEO of The America Channel, from Orlando is also a member of Video Access Alliance. The America Channel airs family programming that highlights the best of Americans and the best of the America.

Gorshien worked very hard to develop his network and would love the chance to make his programming more available to television and video customers that desire to view his exciting shows. Cable prices and the lack of program variety are major concerns of his.

“Cable TV prices have skyrocketed in recent years,” said Doron. In fact, they have doubled in the past ten years. All other telecom services to the home have gone down in price – including broadband, long distance and cellular services. Cable rates continue to skyrocket because of lack of true competition to cable.”

Many African-Americans believe that TV has increasingly become too gratuitously violent, sexual, profane, and inappropriate for Black family viewing. Consumers also fee”l that with so many channels, there is still nothing to watch. And, consumers are forced to pay for 100 channels, when they really want just ten.

Other entrepreneurial members of Video Access Alliance and their networks include Jose Rodriquez, CEO of the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network, Ken Solomon, Chairman and CEO of the Tennis Channel, Nicholas A. Psaltos, Founder and General Manager of The Horror Channel, Broderick Byers, CEO of the Employment and Career Channel and CEO Michael Gerrity’s MultiChannel Ventures Network.

The telecommunication needs of the African-American community in Florida are extremely important to the VAA. Over the last year, the Alliance has focused on ensuring that the video franchise reform debate is viewed as more than simply a fight between large corporate entities, namely cable and telecommunications companies but that the focus of the debate includes meaningful discussion on the benefits of multiple video distribution platforms to entrepreneurs and independent programmers.

Florida’s legislators should step up to the plate in 2007 and address the issues of expensive cable costs, video franchise reform, video distribution competition and video consumer protections.”

(VAA) is a not-for-profit organization designed to serve as an advocacy and advisory group for independent, emerging and minority networks, video programmers, entertainers and other industry participants focused on policies that encourage rapid and ubiquitous deployment and utilization o f new and innovative video distribution platforms.

The Alliance believes that consumers should have more choices for their TV and entertainment services. As such, the Alliance encourages multiple platforms for delivering programming, and supports emerging and independent networks seeking outlets for programming, and promotes the elimination of regulatory barriers that would hinder competition, innovation and greater consumer choice.

Members of the VAA include a variety of network owners, video producers, video content distributors, media professionals and everyday citizens who all agree that opportunities for inclusion and participation are a necessary aspect of video franchis reform.

Central Florida communication entrepreneur Everlena Brown, a member of Video Access Alliance, believes, “The monopoly of video platforms is unconstitutional and conflicting.

Member Vincent “Mr. Speaker” Edwards, a Minister and radio talk show host in north Florida feels very strongly about the status of the telecommunications industry.

Edwards says, “The importance of removing unnecessary barriers to entry into an industry that generates billions of dollars and has great influence is critical.

Doron Gorshien, CEO of The America Channel, from Orlando is also a member of Video Access Alliance. The America Channel airs family programming that highlights the best of Americans and the best of the America.

Gorshien worked very hard to develop his network and would love the chance to make his programming more available to television and video customers that desire to view his exciting shows. Cable prices and the lack of program variety are major concerns of his.

“Cable TV prices have skyrocketed in recent years,” said Doron. In fact, they have doubled in the past ten years. All other telecom services to the home have gone down in price – including broadband, long distance and cellular services. Cable rates continue to skyrocket because of lack of true competition to cable.”

Many African-Americans believe that TV has increasingly become too gratuitously violent, sexual, profane, and inappropriate for Black family viewing. Consumers also fee”l that with so many channels, there is still nothing to watch. And, consumers are forced to pay for 100 channels, when they really want just ten.

Other entrepreneurial members of Video Access Alliance and their networks include Jose Rodriquez, CEO of the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network, Ken Solomon, Chairman and CEO of the Tennis Channel, Nicholas A. Psaltos, Founder and General Manager of The Horror Channel, Broderick Byers, CEO of the Employment and Career Channel and CEO Michael Gerrity’s MultiChannel Ventures Network.

The telecommunication needs of the African-American community in Florida are extremely important to the VAA. Over the last year, the Alliance has focused on ensuring that the video franchise reform debate is viewed as more than simply a fight between large corporate entities, namely cable and telecommunications companies but that the focus of the debate includes meaningful discussion on the benefits of multiple video distribution platforms to entrepreneurs and independent programmers.

Florida’s legislators should step up to the plate in 2007 and address the issues of expensive cable costs, video franchise reform, video distribution competition and video consumer protections.”