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from: Citizen Times

Cable TV PEG channels deserve lawmakers’ aid
published August 14, 2007 12:15 am

Competition usually results in lower prices and better service and products. Who can argue with that? The question is, better service and lower prices for whom?

In the case of cable television franchises, a 2006 North Carolina law passed in an effort to encourage competition could eventually mean better service and lower prices for densely populated affluent areas. It could mean poor or no service for poor or rural areas.

Note: The wonderful fallout of 'more competition' and 'consumer friendly' bills.

from: Multichannel News

Comcast Cuts Free Drops

(Multichannel News) _ Local Michigan governments are publicly criticizing cable operators there for taking advantage of a state law, for instance, cutting most of its free cable services to firehouses and police stations.

from: MultiChannel News

AT&T: Conn. AG Is 'Anti-Consumer'

(Multichannel News) _ An action taken by Connecticut's attorney general to stop AT&T from deploying its U-verse TV video product in the state is "anti-consumer through and through," according to the telephone company.

from: Shegoygan Press

Community Conversations: Cable TV bill should match Illinois' new law

Posted August 12, 2007
By Curt Witynski

Wisconsinites deserve the same as Illinoisans when it comes to oversight of cable TV. Illinois recently passed a much more balanced cable bill than the industry drafted proposal currently before the Wisconsin Legislature. Wisconsin's "video competition" legislation, Assembly Bill 207, should contain the same consumer protections, public access television support, public rights-of-way safeguards, and benefits for property taxpayers as the new Illinois law.

from: The Capital Times

Cable TV bill, as written, is a gift to industry

Curt Witynski, guest columnist — 8/10/2007 11:58 am

Wisconsinites deserve the same as Illinoisans when it comes to oversight of cable TV. Illinois recently passed a much more balanced cable bill than the industry-drafted proposal currently before the Wisconsin Legislature.

from: Crains Detroit

Detroit, Comcast spar over fee
By Amy Lane
3:01 am, August 6, 2007

LANSING — A dispute between the city of Detroit and Comcast Corp. is driving legislation that would strengthen cities' ability to require certain fees from providers of cable TV and similar video services.

Note: The flip side of "competition = lower prices", in fact, competition allows the cable providers to petition the FCC to lift the remaining pricing caps, thus raising prices. If the recent past is any indication, the FCC will comply.

from: MultiChannel News

Comcast Seeks Rate Relief in 150 Communities

from: Newsday

Blumenthal, consumer counsel demands AT&T get cable franchise

August 6, 2007

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and the Office of Consumer Counsel on Monday asked state utility regulators to order AT&T to get a statewide cable television license before signing up new customers.

from: Post Gazette

Who needs public access TV?

Some argue that 'Wayne's World' is still more democratic than YouTube

Sunday, August 05, 2007

By Adrian McCoy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

For many people, public access TV is still symbolized by "Wayne's World," a "Saturday Night Live" sketch that portrayed two slackers doing a so-bad-it's-good program from a basement rec room.

from: Post Gazette

Public access TV, then and now

Sunday, August 05, 2007
By Adrian McCoy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Public access TV dates back to the 1970s, when cable systems began to designate channels on which community members could create and air their own TV programs.

The FCC required that all cable systems in markets of a certain size provide a channel to the community, along with equipment, training, studio space and air time.