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from: Desmoines Register

Cable law faulty, advocates say
Lawsuits targeting franchise fees in jeopardy, they fear

By JASON CLAYWORTH
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

May 3, 2007

Thousands of Iowans could be left without cable service if a bill passed by the Legislature is signed by the governor, cable and city advocates say.

from: Nashville City Paper

If denied, AT&T says it won’t ask again
By John Rodgers, jrodgers@nashvillecitypaper.com
May 07, 2007

AT&T’s lead lobbyist says that if the telecom giant is not successful this year in passing its bid for statewide television franchising, it won’t try again next year but could offer its services to Nashvillians in the near future.

from: Neiman Watchdog

Press gives a free pass to citizens groups allied with telecoms

At a New Jersey utilities board hearing on cable franchises, three guys from Verizon – the elephant in the room – go unnoticed by the regulators, and by the press.

Q. Citizens groups get funding or other support from telecoms and then testify on their behalf, neglecting to point out that they are beneficiaries. Is that acceptable behavior by the citizens groups?

Subject: Write or Call the Gov Today-Save PEG and the First Amendment

note: Gov. Crist signed the bill May 18th - but write him anyway!

Please act on this today and then forward this email on to EVERYBODY you know.

from: MultiChannel News

Fla. Statewide-Franchise Bill Heads to Gov.
Assembly Follows Senate’s Lead, Passes Franchise-Reform Bill

By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 5/1/2007 2:23:00 PM

By a 117-2 vote, the Florida state Assembly concurred with the state's Senate, now sending a franchise-reform bill to Gov. Charlie Crist.

from: MultiChannel News

Iowa Franchise-Reform Bill to Governor’s Desk
Incumbent Video Providers Will Be Able to File for State Regulation After July 1

By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 5/4/2007 12:39:00 PM

A franchise-reform bill that will let incumbent video providers file for state regulation as soon as a competitor files to serve the local community is awaiting the signature of Iowa Gov. Chet Culver.

Alas, objective and critical thinking always lands one a leftist label. Fortunately, we're accustomed to that when we venture into the dark side of american political discourse and the media industrial comlplex.

from: Spring City Chronicle

Cable: Point/Counterpoint

from: Pantagraph.com

Lawmakers head to Vegas for cable TV conference

By Kurt Erickson
kurt.erickson@lee.net
Advertisement

SPRINGFIELD -- It’s a weekend in Las Vegas for some Illinois lawmakers. With just a month left in the legislative session, an estimated 12 to 14 members of the Illinois House and Senate are spending the next couple of days at a trade show for the cable television industry.

Introductions: Mr. Wineke, please meet Mr. Bobby Rush, perhaps your personal foundations have a mutual interest?

from: Madison.com

State Democratic Party chief registers as lobbyist for AT&T on cable-TV bill WSJ

The chairman of the state Democratic Party has registered as a lobbyist for telecommunications giant AT&T, which is pushing for the Legislature to pass a bill that would ease its entrance into the state's cable TV market, the Associated Press reported this afternoon.

from: PR Newswire

Telecom Execs Planned Regulators', Lawmakers' Junket to Japan

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AT&T, Comcast and Verizon planned the agenda for regulators' and lawmakers' luxury trip to Japan last month, according to emails obtained by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR).