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from: MultiChannel News

State Franchises Mean Service Call of Duty
New Laws Have Regulators Trying To Solve Customer-Service Issues
By K.C. Neel -- Multichannel News, 5/21/2007

As state lawmakers across the nation race to pass legislation taking control of video franchising oversight, state regulators are grappling with the additional responsibility and costs associated with that responsibility. Meanwhile, many city administrators say they’re trying to solve customer service problems regardless of whether they have official control or not.

from: Chon.com

$4M Spent to Lobby AT&T-Cable Issue

By BETH RUCKER Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press
May 18, 2007, 4:08PM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The battle over legislation that would ease AT&T's entry into the cable TV market has led to nearly $4 million being spent in lobbying efforts over the past six months _ making it the state's most expensive lobbying issue this year.

Note: This is an astroturf technique, manufacturing names for petitions. A New Jersey verizon astroturf did something very similar during that state franchise battle.

from: Capital Times

2 pols who opposed cable bill say their names were misused

Judith Davidoff — 5/17/2007 11:46 am

A couple of lawmakers were surprised to find their names on a list of Wisconsin residents supportive of a video franchise bill when, in fact, both oppose the legislation.

from: The Plain Dealer

Putting consumers first
Sunday, May 20, 2007

The much-debated video franchise bill passed by the Ohio Senate represents a significant improvement over the original version.

As introduced, Senate Bill 117 would have wiped away the cumbersome city-by-city process of granting franchises to video service providers and replaced it with a single statewide standard. Media giant AT&T, which helped craft the bill, said that favorable language was needed to enhance competition in Ohio's pay-TV market. Most consumers would have probably agreed, as competition usually results in lower prices.

from: Eldo Telecom

Thursday, May 17, 2007
Protecting the telco/cable duopoly

This story out of New York state shows that telcos (in this case, Verizon) can offer broadband-based Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) in without legislation the telcos are seeking in the Empire State to put the state in charge of issuing so-called "video franchises" In this case, Multichannel News reports, the towns of West Haverstraw and North Castle Verizon's applications to provide IPTV over its propriety fiber optic FiOS infrastructure.

Note: We think hell is big enough for both the cable industry and the telephone industry.

from: Nashville Post

Cable industry should 'rot in Hell', says AT&T supporter

Luke Froeb
05-18-2007 2:06 PM

UPDATED 5:08 P.M.: U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson Gina Talamona confirmed late this afternoon that Assistant Attorney General Barnett recently wrote to members of the Tennessee General Assembly to express views consistent with the Wisconsin letter cited in this story. Details were not immediately available. Talamona said that in keeping with DoJ's "competition-advocacy role," Barnett's communications stress concerns about barriers to competition, and are generally silent on remedial actions that might have been undertaken by the FCC and other agencies.

from: MultiChannel News

Franchise Battles Persist

'Pigs’ Cited in Tenn.; DOJ Weighs In On Wisconsin Debate

By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 5/21/2007

Battles to reform video franchising rules in several states remain pitched, with strategies ranging from statesmanlike negotiations between all stakeholders to the distribution of plastic pigs on the steps of the Tennessee Capitol.

The Florida Video Franchise Bill was signed into law by Gov. Crist on Friday May 19th.

from: St. Petersburg Times

Florida Cable Bill Supported by Groups Getting Telco Money

May 18, 2007

My friend Mike Twomey, a Tallahassee lawyer who frequently represents customers in cases against Florida utility companies, writes to argue that the advantages of the cable-TV bill (House Bill 529, the subject of my print column today) outweigh the disadvantages. Specifically, he points out the bill gets rid of the last round of those local telephone rate increases, while increasing access to the Lifeline program that provides phone service to those who need a little help.

from: Knoxville News Sentinel

Is Tennessee Ready for AT&T to Enter Cable Market?

May 18, 2007

A bill making its way through the Legislature would allow communications giant AT&T to enter the cable television market in Tennessee under the argument that increased competition will result in reduced prices and better service.