Save Access - State Franchises

State Franchise News Tracker:

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:32:56 -0400

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State news updated as available. Also check legislative updates In the States.
Send comments/updates to info@saveaccess.org

Lawmakers Press FCC On AT$T's Public Program Offerings

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:59:17 -0400

from: The Morning Star

Lawmakers Press FCC On AT&T's Public Program Offerings
9-17-08 2:10 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Members of a powerful House committee are pressing the Federal Communications Commission to put a stop to how AT&T Inc. (T) offers public and educational programming on its fledgling paid TV service.

More Verminators!

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:56:27 -0400

from: Riedel Communications

More Verminators!

On the eve of a Congressional hearing regarding what has happened to Public, Educational and Government (PEG) access channels since the passage of statewide or state issued franchise legislation, it is heartening to note that the cable and telecom industries (and the FCC) have severely overplayed their hand. Tomorrow, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government will hear a laundry list of harms done to PEG in what appears to be an industry-wide effort to bury and destroy these local channels. An effort that was spawned by the FCC’s First and Second Report and Order on Video Franchising and the nineteen states that passed the state legislation. These harms come at a time when Congress and the American people are acutely sensitive to media consolidation and the loss of localism.

Subcommittee Hearing on Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) Access for Cable

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:11:51 -0400

The following link is scheduled to provide a live look at this morning's subcommittee meeting on PEG:

http://appropriations.edgeboss.net/wmedia-live/appropriations/33698/282_appropriations-happrops_080213.asx

Background:

Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Hearing on Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) Access for Cable Television

HI: State Seeks Input on Upcoming Cable Franchise Renewal

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:19:07 -0400

from: Hawaii Reporter

State Seeks Input on Upcoming Cable Franchise Renewal
By Keali'i Lopez, 6/17/2008 3:59:54 AM

In the recent past, we've kept you informed about past proceedings, including the RFP and legislative bills and resolutions that could impact Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) Access.

Cable: deregulation good for consumers; Ars: like heck it is

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:06:23 -0400

from: Ars Technica

Cable: deregulation good for consumers; Ars: like heck it is

By Nate Anderson | Published: June 10, 2008 - 12:50PM CT

If the last 10 years have taught us anything, it's that the cable industry in the US is focused on openness, innovation, and customer satisfaction; but if we can't keep the government's knuckleheaded regulators out of our cable lines and off our Internet, cable's nearly absurd level of innovation will be throttled down more effectively than BitTorrent uploads on Comcast's network. Well, so says the cable industry, at least.

IL: AT$T Access Plan Challenged

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:41:11 -0400

from: Illinois Channel

AT&T Access Plan Challenged
by Curtis Black | curtis@newstips.org
June 5,2008

AT&T's plan for public access on its U-verse video service -- which the company calls "innovative" and critics call inadequate -- is being challenged in Illinois.

In other states, AT&T has relegated hundreds of public, educational, and governmental (PEG) stations to submenus on a single Channel 99, where accessing a particular channel is cumbersome and time-consuming, and picture and sound quality are on a par with YouTube, access advocates say. (This video demonstrate how Channel 99 works in California.)

LA: House OKs cable franchise bill

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:39:51 -0400

from: The Advicate

House OKs cable franchise bill

* By SARAH CHACKO
* Advocate Capitol News Bureau
* Published: Jun 11, 2008 - Page: 6A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

Comments (1)

After lengthy debate and several failed amendments, House members gave final approval Tuesday to legislation that would enable cable companies to get a statewide franchise.

WI: Charter is dropping cable deal with Madison; Madison City Channel

Thu, 22 May 2008 07:01:47 -0400

from: Wisconsin State Journal

Charter is dropping cable deal with Madison; Madison City Channel, WYOU could move to triple digits

DEAN MOSIMAN
608-252-6141
dmosiman@madison.com

Charter Communications is opting out of its cable franchise deal with Madison, which may mean changes for the city's government and public access TV stations.

FL: Strategizing to save public TV channels

Thu, 22 May 2008 06:57:40 -0400

from: WMNF News

Strategizing to save public TV channels
WMNF Evening News Thursday Listen to this entire show: listen to this show

Tags: FL PIRG, TBCN, PEG Channels

A strategy session was held this morning at Tampa Bay Community Network (TBCN) to discuss ways citizens can rally and amend Florida’s Consumer Choice Act of 2007, which threatens Florida’s public access, education and government TV channels, known as PEG channels.

TN: Governor Signs Statewide Video Franchise Bill Into Law

Thu, 22 May 2008 06:46:59 -0400

from: WZTV

Tennessee Governor Signs Statewide Video Franchise Bill Into Law

Associated Press, May 19, 2008

Gov. Phil Bredesen has signed into law a bill to create statewide TV cable franchising in Tennessee.

The measure pushed by AT&T Inc. was the result of two years of negotiations with the cable industry and local governments that also saw millions spent on lobbying and advertising campaigns.

NC: Local governments withhold public access TV funds

Thu, 15 May 2008 06:50:42 -0400

from: Orange Politics

Local governments withhold public access TV funds
by Ruby Sinreich on Mon, 05/12/2008 - 11:50am.

It seems like Chapel Hill and Orange County are giving our local public access provider quite the run around, when they should be giving them money! The programming on The Peoples Channel includes a wide variety of creative output and civic endeavors by local residents, plus they also carry the essential Democracy Now! If you don't find what you want on channel 8, you can march right in to the station, get low-cost training, and fill that gap. This nonprofit TV station is a tremendous asset to our community, and it deserves to be fully funded by our local governments.

IN: Public access TV suffering from telecom ‘reform' bill

Thu, 15 May 2008 06:47:47 -0400

from: Journal Gazette

Published: May 15, 2008 6:00 a.m.
Public access TV suffering from telecom ‘reform' bill
By Erik S. Möllberg

Those of us in the Public, Educational and Government Access TV community believed that House Bill 1279 (transferring cable franchising from municipalities to state control) would not only fail to address concerns we had prior to its passage, but also would cause irreparable harm to every PEG access center in Indiana. State legislators assured us this would not happen. Now, two years after the bill’s passage, those trepidations have materialized.

TN: As AT$T legislation wraps up, city may be first to see U-verse

Fri, 02 May 2008 07:15:59 -0400

from: The City Paper

As AT&T legislation wraps up, city may be first to see U-verse
By John Rodgers, Friday, May 2, 2008 3:21 am

Nashvillians and residents of neighboring counties will likely have the first crack at AT&T’s television programming later this year now that legislation is close to becoming law, a lawmaker close to the telecom said.

CA: The Cancellation of Channel 36

Thu, 01 May 2008 23:15:09 -0400

from: La Times

The Cancellation of Channel 36

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Los Angeles Times, May 1, 2008
By Patt Morrison

It's the channel you probably channel-surf right past on your way from Discovery to CNN.