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from: Telecom Web

Update: The State Video-Franchise Bill Report Card

With the first half of 2007 nearly over, the scorecard for state video-franchise legislation stands at four and four. Florida became the latest state to enact such rules, with Gov. Charlie Crist signing that state's bill into law late last week.

Missouri, Iowa and Georgia have passed similar legislation, but those bills still await the governors' signatures. The list of states with new video-franchising rules in place also includes California, Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Indiana, New Jersey, Michigan and Florida.

But along with victory, there's defeat. According to TelecomWeb news break's sister publication CableFAX Daily, two states - Utah and Colorado - voted down bills in committee this year. That's somewhat unique because most of last year's failed legislation stemmed from lawmakers running out of time, says Rick Cimerman, vice president/state and government affairs at the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. Two other states also have failed to pass legislation, with Washington tabling a bill to potentially take it up next year and Idaho's sponsor withdrawing legislation (all of the defeats took place in Qwest territory).

The score for defeats actually bumps up to five if you include Minnesota, which seems to be keeping legislation permanently in committee, says Cimerman. Eight states, primarily in AT&T territory, still have bills on the front burner: Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Tennessee appears the least likely to pass a bill this year, because its General Assembly only has about a month left but several big pieces of legislation to take up--including the budget and Gov. Phil Bredesen's cigarette-tax increase. The state's Senate Commerce Committee is slated to take the bill up this week.

Another state worth watching is Pennsylvania. In October 2006, the sponsors of the state franchising bills dropped the legislation but they now appear prepared to reintroduce the measures. One state senator who was not an original sponsor last year plans to introduce a bill that would create a statewide franchising law under the auspices of the Public Utility Commission.

As things stand now, AT&T has more territory covered by state franchises, but Verizon, which has applied for local franchises, has a significant lead in video customers. Verizon reported 348,000 subscribers at the end of 1Q07, while AT&T reported 20,000.

As summer approaches, 2007 reveals that some states have adopted new statewide video-franchise legislation, others have postponed, and some have voted against state legislation (select the state link to view the legislation).

from: Bitchslappin

Choice and Competition in Cable and Telecomm, Take Two

I've been following the heavy handed and well funded lobbying of the Telecomm Giants to get into the IPTV business by pushing (and some say WRITING) the new State Level Legislation that has been introduced in a bunch of different States across the US.

from: Wilson Times

Bill would protect monopolies
Tuesday, May 29, 2007

The short title of the bill is "The Local Government Fair Competition Act," but the honest title should be "The Monopolies Protection Act."

The bill, which is in committee in the N.C. House, would establish a series of hurdles for local governments seeking to provide communications services, including telephone, cable television and Internet connections. While some of the provisions can be justified, others are transparently intended to discourage cities or counties from creating competing networks, such as the fiber-optic network the city of Wilson is already installing.

from: Common Cause

Ohio Senate Bill 117 is not "TV4US"

By Sibley Arnebeck
Posted on Tue May 29, 2007 at 09:33:56 AM EST

SB 117, Ohio's "state video franchising reform" bill is yet another business friendly scheme borrowed from Michigan. A previous effort was the successful "buying" of (through illegally funded "issue ads") a business friendly supreme court. This time telco giants are spending large amounts of money through their phony "astroturf" front groups to advertise and lobby to "buy" legislation favorable to their shareholders, with no regard for their obligation to provide diversity of information and service to all of the people.

from: MultiChannel News

Study Says Statewide Franchising Hasn't Driven Prices Down

By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 5/28/2007

Competition has not led to lower basic cable-rates in Texas, according to a survey conducted by the state's chapter of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisers.

From KeepUsConnected.org

Amended Video Franchise Bill Not Heard in Illinois

May 29, 2007

No amendment to House Bill 1500 was introduced at today’s House Telecommunications Committee hearing. As previously reported, considerable work has been completed on an amendment to the bill as the Attorney General's office and House staff work with telephone and cable companies, cities, PEGs and consumer advocates to craft a bill that will result in fair competition.

Monday's Crain's Chicago Business cites Springfield sources as saying AT&T is balking at a revised, more pro-consumer bill brokered by Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

Whether or not a bill gets out by the end of this session, progress on the HB 1500 amendment lays a firm foundation for any future telecom legislation. We are grateful for the excellent work of Susan Satter of the Attorney General's office and Louie Mossos of Speaker Madigan's staff on the HB 1500 amendment.

And thanks to all of you for keeping alive our call to Springfield to Keep Us Connected.

Click here for original draft of HB 1500.
Click here to learn more about the Keep Us Connected coalition.

CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR

Click here to find phone numbers for your state representative.

Talking Points
As originally written, HB 1500:

Harms Public, Educational and Government (PEG) Access TV channels
Drops meaningful requirements that companies serve everyone
Weakens customer service protections
Harms fair competition

from: Sioux City Journal

Culver signs cable television expansion bill

By Dan Gearino Journal Des Moines Bureau

DES MOINES -- Gov. Chet Culver closed the books on this year's legislative session Tuesday, signing 11 bills, including a measure that will allow cable television providers to apply for the right to sell their services statewide.

from: MultiChannel News

Nevada Franchise-Reform Bill Heads to Gov.

Legislation Would Mean Secretary of State Would Issue Cable Franchises
By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 5/29/2007 4:34:00 PM