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from: STL Today

AT&T shows them the money

By Kevin McDermott
POST-DISPATCH SPRINGFIELD BUREAU
07/01/2007

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — As AT&T was lobbying this year for a controversial overhaul of Illinois' pay television laws, it was donating tens of thousands of dollars to the state lawmakers who would ultimately approve the measure, records show.

from: SF Weekly

Do you want to live in a world without "The Fantasy Bedtime Tour"?
Fri Jun 29, 2007 at 04:37:46 PM

What would we do without “The Fantasy Bedtime Hour” or “If Christ Returned to you Today?”

Do you want to live in a world without them?

Both can only be seen on San Francisco Cable Access Stations 29 and 76, so we may find out. Zane Blaney, Executive Director of the San Francisco Community Television Corporation (CTC), says California’s new cable laws might force San Francisco’s local cable access stations off the air.

from: SJ-R.com

Governor signs cable legislation
Measure designed to open television markets in state

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published Sunday, July 01, 2007

Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a law Saturday that advocates hope will make Illinois a national leader in opening cable television markets to competition.

rom: ZDNet.com

June 29th, 2007
A tale of two states’ video competition bills: one good, one bad

If you think that (at least some) politicians aren’t resting neatly in the pockets of telecom companies, think again. When Bob Chernow, long time chairman of the Regional Telecommunications Commission in southwestern Wisconsin, finally (it took 45 days of calling to get a meeting) met with Rep. Phil Montgomery, author of an AT&T-pushed bill calling for deregulation of the cable industry, it was not a happy meeting of the minds, reports the Capital Times

from: MultiChannel News

Local Governments Question Statewide Video Franchises

TeleCommUnity Claims Telcos Haven’t Accelerated Deployment
By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 6/29/2007 12:46:00 PM

Laws moving video-franchising authority to the state level now exist in 21 states (including Illinois, where the governor is expected to sign the bill pending there), but the laws, promoted to speed franchising by competitors, have not accelerated deployment or lowered prices, asserted TeleCommUnity, an alliance of local governments promoting their role in franchising.

from: Broadcasting and Cable

Buildout Big Winner In State Video Franchise Laws

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/29/2007 12:12:00 PM

Buildout requirements have been the big winner in the proliferation of statewide video franchising adopted by 21 states to date.

That's according to Gerry Lederer, legislative council to TeleCommUnity, an alliance of local government officials trying to maintain oversight over telecommunications service in their localities.

from: State House News Service

HOUSE CHAIRS ON MA VERIZON BILL: NOT THIS YEAR

Legislation easing regulations for telecommunications companies looking to break into cable TV markets, which has the backing of Senate Ways and Means chairman Steven Panagiotakos, is unlikely to pass this session, two House committee chairs said yesterday. Reps. Daniel Bosley, House chair of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, and Brian Dempsey, House chair of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, said yesterday outside a leadership meeting in House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi’s office that the bill’s prospects this year are dim.

from: The Capital Times

Cut out: Consumer advocates say they're left out of the cable bill

Judith Davidoff — 6/28/2007 11:58 am

Bob Chernow has been chairman of the Regional Telecommunications Commission for two decades. The commission negotiates cable franchise agreements on behalf of 33 communities in southwestern Wisconsin, representing about half of the state's population and cable subscribers.

FROM: Hilltop Press, June 20, 2007

A right cross to Waycross Bill would cut franchise revenues
By Heidi Fallon
hfallon@communitypress.com

Legislation working its way to the governor's desk will have dire consequences for Waycross Community Television.

Senate Bill 117, which passed in the House of Representatives June 14 with a 92-2 vote, is "very unfortunate for Ohio consumers," according to Chip Bergquist, Waycross executive director.

from: Tampa Bay.com

June 28, 2007
Losing the 'Public' in Public Access TV Sooner Than Expected

Granted, it may be tough to feel connected to a TV platform with show titles such as "Smokey da Bear" and "Religion Stinks."

But producers at Pinellas County's cable access TV system are hoping to enlist the public's aid in preserving at least some of the dozens of programs now slated to disappear following officials' decision to shut down the "public" part of Access Pinellas.