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from: Illinois Issues

ENDS AND MEANS

A legislative measure would end most regulation of new wired video service

by Charles N. Wheeler III

"When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled."

African proverb

In the legislative battle now under way between two heavyweight industries — the telephone companies and the cable television providers — what's at risk of getting trampled is the public interest.

From: Gazette

Local govts. oppose Telecom Reform Act

By LAUREN DARSON
Legislative Gazette Staff Writer
Mon, May 21, 2007

In rural parts of New York state, broadband Internet access is only a figment of the imagination and in some regions, cable is a luxury not yet available.

Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D-Elmsford, and Sen. Vincent Leibell, R,C-Patterson, introduced last Tuesday the Telecommunications Reform Act of 2007 (S.5124/A.3980B) to increase competition among cable providers, raise the level of telephone service and to bring wider access to broadband Internet.

from: Common Dreams

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 22, 2007
11:18 AM

CONTACT: Free Press
Jen Howard, Free Press, (202) 265-1490, x 22

Ohio Lawmakers Urged to Oppose AT&T-Backed Bill
SB 117 Puts Future of Broadband and Public Access Channels at Risk

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MAY 22 - Consumer groups and local public access stations are urging Ohio state legislators to oppose Senate Bill 117 — legislation that would eliminate longstanding consumer protections and local oversight of cable TV providers. The bill, which already passed the state Senate, will be considered by a key House committee tomorrow, May 23.

from: Cup of Joe

Battle Intense on Flawed Cable Franchise Change
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Once again today, state legislatures take up the issue of some very unwise changes to how cable franchises are provided and regulated. It's been the single most dollar-gulping lobby effort this year in state government, with current spending at just over $4 million. (And that's just the amount as of April of this year.)

from: Detroit News

AT&T stokes cable, Web war
Some Comcast customers will have choice for 1st time
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Eric Morath / The Detroit News

The days of rising cable bills could be over in Metro Detroit.

AT&T Inc. launches its U-verse television service in 50 Metro Detroit communities today, giving cable companies, chiefly Comcast, their stiffest competition yet.

from: PennLive

House proposal would step up giving viewers more selection
Monday, May 21, 2007

Aproposal in the state House is a solid step to ward speeding up consumer choice in selecting cable television service while also providing necessary regulatory oversight.

from: Knox Views

Tennessee Legislative update
Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2007/05/21 - 12:20pm.

The AT&T sponsored cable franchise bill is back on the calendar for tomorrow in both the House Commerce and Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture committees. Previous posts about the bill can be found here and here. (The Senate version now has ten amendments and I haven't had time to read them. Does anybody know what they say?)

from: AlterNet

Rural America Is Being Left off the Information Superhighway

By Steve Early, The Nation
Posted on May 19, 2007, Printed on May 21, 2007

Northern New England is just emerging from its annual "mud season" -- long the bane of back-road drivers throughout the region. Nevertheless, residents of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire are now worried about getting stuck in a different way. That's because their local phone company, the corporate giant Verizon, wants to ditch them as customers.

from: MultiChannel News

Gov. Crist Signs Florida Franchise-Reform Bill

(Multichannel News) _ Florida Gov. Charlie Crist http://www.flgov.com signed a franchise-reform bill http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6438318.html for his state that will allow new competitors to apply for statewide franchising by July 1.

from: Chippewa.com

Editorials from Wisconsin newspapers

By The Associated Press

AT&T has been pushing the Video Competition Act aggressively in Wisconsin, and a cynic would note that if it was as great as they say it is, it wouldn't need the hard sell.

However, the telecommunications giant and the lawmakers behind the proposal are to be commended for at least listening to early criticism of the package and responding.