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from: Knox Views

AT&T cable bill clears Senate Commerce Committee
Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2007/05/23

Tom Humphrey files this report. There was some drama involving e-mails, high-profile lobbyists, and an exchange between an AT&T lobbyist and Sen. Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville), who objected to being called an "obstructionist." He voted against the bill in the committee.

from: MultiChannel News

Court: Chicago May Collect Cable-Data Fee
Illinois Appellate Court Reverses Chicago Cable-Modem-Fee Ruling
By Ted Hearn -- Multichannel News, 5/22/2007 11:59:00 PM

Comcast owes the City of Chicago as much as 5% of its high-speed Internet-access revenue generated from all city-based data customers in the past five years, according to an Illinois state court ruling that conflicts with multiple court rulings on the same regulatory issue.

from: Know Views

Local cable control getting unplugged

I haven't been following the AT&T/cable legislation much, but bloggers Joe Powell and R. Neal have.

Joe Powell: As I've written before, I have no opposition to AT&T wanting to jump into the cable business - but to make that decision only after state law is altered, only after local control of cable franchises has been removed, provides no benefit to the consumer and muddles the procedures for how such franchises would be held accountable.

Mobilizing Your Community Against the Verizon Bill
In Time for the June 5th Hearing at the State House

from: Cambridge Community Television

Top 10 Reasons To Oppose the Verizon Bill

Massachusetts Senate Bill No. 1975, House Bill No. 3385
Read the bill here

1
The bill eliminates the power of LOCAL governments to negotiate cable franchises. negotiating power from the local to the state level. They are very mistaken. Read on to see why.

from: Newsday

N.Y. lawmakers considering cable competition bill
By MARK JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer

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

Charles Bell, programs director for Consumers Union, said at a state legislative hearing Wednesday that in the 11 years since Congress passed the Telecommunications Act deregulating the industry, consumers nationwide have seen a 64 percent increase in cable rates under "monopolistic" cable pricing.

from: Forida Consumer Viewpoint

Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Charlie's Consumer Credibility Disappearing

Governor Charlie Crist is losing credibility as a consumer advocate because of recent bill signings. Most notably, the statewide cable franchising bill was opposed by every consumer group in the state and national consumer groups including Consumer Federation of America, Consumer's Union, ACORN, PIRG, and FreePress.

from: Main Street Monroe

SB117, the begining of the end of 'Live' Broadcasts from TV Middletown?

S.B. 117 is supposed to increase competition and improve cable service in Ohio, but S.B. 117 might do the opposite.

The bill was just approved by the Ohio Senate and now moves to the Ohio House.

Today the Senate Commerce Committee approved the ATT Bill. Unclear if it moves directly to the floor or to another Committee. One of the amendments (PEG/INET amendment) approved today I think protected somewhat existing PEG and INET’s, I don’t have the exact language so unclear how far that amendment goes.

The House Commerce Committee continued discussions but did not vote on the Bill today. They will have a joint meeting tomorrow morning with the State and Local Committee then in the afternoon they may reconvene to discuss and vote on it.

The state video legislation in your state is moving fast, please take a moment to take action!