Save Access

from: STL Today

TV bill could expand options, lower cost
By Derek Kravitz
POST-DISPATCH JEFFERSON CITY BUREAU
02/16/2007

JEFFERSON CITY • Cable television customers could have more options for service and save money under a measure that cleared its first legislative hurdle on Thursday.

from: Examiner

Bill could affect public access channels

Area legislators updated their constituents on the goings on at Jefferson City at the Independence Chamber of Commerce's month legislative breakfast this morning.

State Senator Victor Callahan was one of three legislators who attended. Callahan, D-Independence, talked about the Cable and AT&T Bill.

from: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The flip side of network TV
If Georgia changes cable franchise rules, some public access channels could go dark

By SCOTT LEITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/16/07

People TV is, like most public access stations, a good bit out of the ordinary.

from: MultiChannel News

Qwest Backs State Franchise Bill
Telco Tries to Succeed in Washington Where It Failed in Colorado

By Linda Haugsted 2/14/2007 6:16:00 PM

Just days after a Qwest Communications-backed bill failed to escape committee in Colorado, a similar bill to reform cable franchising surfaced in Washington state, also backed by the telco.

from: STL TOday

Missouri's TV bill could expand options, lower cost

By Derek Kravitz
POST-DISPATCH JEFFERSON CITY BUREAU
02/16/2007

JEFFERSON CITY — Cable television customers could have more options for service and save money under a measure that cleared its first legislative hurdle on Thursday.

from: PR Web

BCAW, Urban League, Cities Say Qwest Bill Bad for Local Consumers

Opponents Say Qwest Measure Would Allow Phone Company to Serve Most Affluent Neighborhoods While Bypassing Others, Cost Communities Needed Tax Dollars and Replace Local Oversight with State Bureaucracy; Telephone Company Seeks End to Local Control of Cable Television, Critics Say

from:
Nashville Business Journal

Competitive cable TV bill introduced

Nashville Business Journal - 3:57 PM CST Thursday, February 15, 2007

Legislation dealing with competition in the cable industry in Tennessee was introduced into the state's general assembly today.

from: Technology Daily

Verizon Shifts Its Policy Focus To Boosting Broadband Deployment

By David Hatch

(Monday, February 12) Verizon Communications led the charge last year for deregulatory telecommunications legislation in Congress but has reversed course now that Democrats, who are considered less friendly to the Bell companies than Republicans, control Congress.

From: IL Daily Herald

'Astroturf' groups represent industries, not members

By Anna Marie Kukec
Daily Herald Business Writer
Posted Sunday, February 11, 2007

A group called TV4US Coalition placed advertising inserts in newspapers statewide last week aiming to “educate” consumers on how to get better, more competitive rates for television in Illinois.

from: Waxing America

AT&T Seeks Wisconsin Statewide Video Franchise

A Senate hearing Wednesday was the first visible action on AT&T's push to have Wisconsin law changed to bypass municipalities and create statewide video franchises. Senator Plale's Committee on Commerce, Utilities and Rail held an informational hearing (no bill has yet been officially introduced) on AT&T's proposal to allow it to upgrade its network to offer a video product wherever it sees fit. AT&T and its lead Assembly advocate, Representative Phil Montgomery, argued for quick state action to avoid municipal delay and bring "badly needed" competition to Wisconsin consumers. Officials from large and small cities, cable industry representatives, and local access channel users defended the existing of local control, and called for fairness and reasonable deliberation on a complex and important issue. Don't count on it.