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from: LA Times

Phone firms' TV market bid may skip Congress
With Democrats rising, an overhaul of telecom laws is unlikely. The industry turns to states.

By Jim Puzzanghera, Times Staff Writer
November 28, 2006

WASHINGTON — Big phone companies trying to dial in an overhaul of telecommunications laws will have to hang up and try the call again next year.

Telecom experts hesitate to declare loser in increasing competition
Sunday, Nov 26, 2006

from: Arkansas News Bureau

By Jason Wiest

LITTLE ROCK - The difference between the vehicles on the information superhighway today is slight.

Besides providing the Internet service needed to travel online, cable and telephone companies both increasingly offer each other's services.

from: U.S. Newswire

$4 Million Check from Dems to Nunez Looks Like Laundered AT&T Funds, Should Be Returned

Assembly Speaker Carried Cable Deregulation Bill for AT&T as Company Raised Money for Party

11/20/2006 3:11:00 PM

To: State Desk

Contact: Carmen Balber of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, 310-392-0522 ext. 324

from: Center for Public Integrity

Strains Showing in Longtime Friendship
Telecom firms have supported Rep. Dingell, and until recently, the incoming House committee chairman has supported them

By Drew Clark

WASHINGTON, November 21, 2006 — Rep. John Dingell greeted the Republican-drafted telecommunications bill, designed to speed the Bell companies' entry into the television marketplace, with sarcasm and cynicism.

from: Broadcasting & Cable

Senate Confirms Martin's Renomination
By John Eggerton

The Nomination of FCC Chairman Kevin Martin for another term atop the commission was approved on the Senate floor Thursday night.

There had been a hold on the nomination, generally thought to have been place by Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.) over phone-related issues. But it had also been widely expected to be lifted so that he could be approved in the lame-duck session of the still-Republican-controlled Congress.

from: Technology Daily

Telecom Bill Appears Dead For Year

By David Hatch

(Revised Thursday, November 9) Pending deregulatory telecommunications legislation faces new hurdles now that Democrats have won the House and gained control of the Senate, industry sources said.

from: Technology Daily

Telecom Reform, Merger Are On Rep. Dingell's Radar

By David Hatch

(Wednesday, November 8) House Democrats will pursue a fresh telecommunications overhaul next year, incoming Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell said. The panel also will ask the FCC to delay consideration of the AT&T, BellSouth merger until 2007 so it can oversee deliberations on the transaction.

from: Technology Daily

Tech, Telecom Donations Flow To Newly Empowered Democrats

By David Hatch

(Revised Wednesday, November 8) In the runup to Tuesday's election, Microsoft, Time Warner and other deep-pocketed telecommunications and technology giants filled the campaign coffers of House Democrats who will now emerge as key powerbrokers with their party having captured a House majority.

from: DSL Reports

A Democratic House's Impact on Telecom
Goodbye national franchises, hello net-neutrality laws?

Posted on 2006-11-08 15:17:35 by Karl

Democrat John Dingell (MI) and Democrat Ed Markey (MA) have both been avid supporters of net-neutrality laws and are expected to take command of telecom policy when Democrats reclaim power in the House next January. Dingell will be appointed chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees phone & cable operators. Markey will lead the Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee, which could apply pressure to change tactics at the FCC.

from: TMP Cafe

Lame Duck Senators Plan Fresh Assault on Net Neutrality

To learn more about GOP plans for the lame-duck session visit Lameduckhunt.org

If national polls are right, the upcoming midterm election could bring a dramatic shift of power on Capitol Hill. But that may not save us from a last-minute assault on Net Neutrality by members of the outgoing Congress.