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from: MultiChannel News

Missouri Gov. Expected to Sign Franchise Bill

From Multichannel News, March 22, 2007
By Linda Haugsted

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt is expected to sign a bill that will assign video franchising authority to the state’s Public Service Commission.

from: Naples News

House Refuses to Change Video Franchise Bill in Florida

From Associated Press, March 22, 2007
By Bill Kaczor

The House refused on Wednesday to weaken a bill designed to make it easier for telephone and other telecommunications companies to compete for cable television business with existing providers.

from: Surburban Chicago News

Cities lining up to fight state control of cable TV

March 18, 2007
By STEVE LORD and Heather Gillers STAFF WRITERS

GENEVA -- Pete Collins is wearing a path between here and Springfield.

The information technology person for the city of Geneva is one of many representing municipalities throughout the state at hearings in the State Capitol about House Bill 1500, known as the Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007.

From City of Geneva, March 20, 2007

Illinois Municipal Broadband Communications Association letter of opposition to HB 1500

March 20, 2007

Dear Chairman Brosnahan & Members of the Telecommunications Committee:

My name is Peter Collins and I am the President of the Illinois Municipal Broadband Communications Association, as well as the Information Technologies Manager for the City of Geneva and a citizen of Batavia, Illinois.

from: Staten Island Live

N.Y. lawmakers considering cable competition bill

3/21/2007, 4:18 p.m. EDT
By MARK JOHNSON
The Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Increased cable television competition could be coming to New York state as lawmakers seek to lower consumers' bills.

from: Poughkeepsie Journal

Plan for statewide cable franchise sparks opposition

By Jay Gallagher
Journal Albany bureau
Wednesday, March 21, 2007

ALBANY — A proposal to allow companies offering fiber-optic video compete more effectively against cable television for subscribers ran into opposition Wednesday from both cable-TV officials as well as from Verizon, which is building a fiber-based network in select communities.

from: Rockford Register Star

AT&T Backs IIlinois Video Franchise Legislation

From Rockford Register Star, March 21, 2007
By Kiyoshi Martinez

Two communication industry behemoths are battling over how TV programming gets to Illinois homes.

On one side, AT&T wants to re-enter the broadband market and compete directly with cable companies to supply video services — a market worth $32 billion nationally in 2006.

from: NAtional Journal

Telco Firms Scoring at the State Level

From National Journal, March 16, 2007
By Michael Martinez

The Democratic takeover of Congress may have complicated the federal lobbying plans of large telephone companies — but 2007 appears to be going well for them at the state level thus far.

from: MissouriNet

Video Franchise Bill Moves On Without Rural Provision
Tuesday, March 20, 2007, 5:41 PM
By Brent Martin

A bill that allows telephone companies to get into the cable TV business is on Governor Blunt's desk without a provision supporters touted as a way to bring high-tech to rural Missouri. Rep. Joe Aull (D-Marshall) has attempted to put back in a provision that would charge satellite providers a five percent franchise fee to fund technology grants toward rural economic development. Aull says rural Missouri is falling behind the more populated areas and needs to boost to stay competitive economically.

from: Globe Gazette

Senate OKs bill to ease cable TV competition

By Dan Gearino, Globe Des Moines Bureau

DES MOINES — Cable television providers would have an easier time entering the Iowa market under a bill passed Tuesday in the Iowa Senate, a measure that supporters say would lead to lower rates and greater options.