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Note: Our list of Telco 'worst' moments would be a bit longer - and includes items like the ongoing attacks on PEG, exploding telco dslam boxes, and heavy-handed and costly political lobbying. But this list is a good start and it's safe to say the telcos and cablecos need a bit more watching.

from: Huffington Post

from: NY Times

December 16, 2007
Wider Spying Fuels Aid Plan for Telecom Industry
By ERIC LICHTBLAU, JAMES RISEN and SCOTT SHANE

This article is by Eric Lichtblau, James Risen and Scott Shane.

WASHINGTON — For months, the Bush administration has waged a high-profile campaign, including personal lobbying by President Bush and closed-door briefings by top officials, to persuade Congress to pass legislation protecting companies from lawsuits for aiding the National Security Agency’s warrantless eavesdropping program.

from: Telephony Online

The rise and fall of cable
By Carol Wilson

Dec 3, 2007 5:46 PM

This year's stumble by cable stocks, which are down about 25% even after last week's FCC-inspired rally, continues to puzzle me.

The industry has done a far better job than its chief rivals, the telcos, of delivering triple-play bundles to the majority of its customers and has already made significant inroads in signing up voice customers. Yet Wall Street is apparently convinced that AT&T and Verizon pose a significant threat to cable's video franchise revenues.

from: Nieman Watchdog

How much of your state’s legislation is being drafted by industry?

ASK THIS | November 30, 2007

The American Legislative Council, or ALEC, lets corporations cultivate legislators and win support for industry-written bills while not technically breaking lobbying rules – and paying no taxes. (First of two articles)

from: NY Times

November 10, 2007
F.C.C. Planning Rules to Open Cable Market
By STEPHEN LABATON

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 — The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to impose significant new regulations to open the cable television market to independent programmers and rival video services after determining that cable companies have become too dominant in the industry, senior commission officials said.

from: The Hill

Specter Floats Compromise on Telecom Immunity

From The Hill, November 7, 2007
By Manu Raju

The top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee is drafting a compromise to resolve the thorny issue of whether to provide retroactive liability protections for the phone companies that allegedly participated in the Bush administration’s secret wiretapping program.

Note: There's much to find fault with in Ashcroft's op-ed below, most notably the recent revelation by ex-Qwest CEO that the NSA sought wiretap access before 9.11.

From: NY Times

November 5, 2007
Op-Ed Contributor
Uncle Sam on the Line

By JOHN ASHCROFT

from: VCAM Blog

Threats to public access?

On October 31st, the FCC made some decisions concerning media ownership and franchising rules that could adversely affect public, educational and government access centers nationwide. It’s one more push towards a cliff that PEG centers have been inching closer to over the last several years. Basically, the FCC is attempting to remove rules that permit local franchising authorities (in this case, the Vermont Public Service Board) from requiring cable companies to set aside funds for PEG services.

from: Toward Freedom

I Want My Community TV: Public Access Television Faces Threats

Written by Megan Tady
Tuesday, 30 October 2007

Imagine you know a thief is going to pilfer your television in the middle of the night? Most likely, you would take action to stop it – lock your doors, hide your TV, or in one last ditch effort for revenge, at least hide your remote. Imagine you knew that in the broadest of daylight, corporations and government were going to pinch not your television, but the only TV channels that give you, the citizen, a voice and a hand in local programming? Well grab your bat, because there’s someone at your door.

from: Washington Post

Roadblock for Telecom Immunity

November 1, 2007
By Ellen Nakashima

In a blow to the Bush administration, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat and Republican expressed reluctance yesterday to granting blanket immunity to telecommunications carriers sued for assisting the government’s warrantless surveillance program.