Save Access

from: Knoxvile Business Journal

The fight to provide
Cable industry, local governments oppose AT&T's request for statewide franchise

By KARIN MILLER, news@knoxbusinessjournal.com
April 16, 2007

The biggest — and almost certainly the most expensive — battle on Capitol Hill this year is over an effort by telecommunications giant AT&T to enter the cable television business in Tennessee.

from: WEAU News

Cable Choice Bill: Could Hurt Community Television

Apr 19, 2007
Reporter: Meghan Kulig
Email Address: meghan.kulig@weau.com

A state bill designed to encourage competition among TV providers could actually end up hurting local community television stations.

State Representatives Terry Moulton and Jeff Wood have now come up with an amendment to the Cable Choice Bill that would extend some of the stations’ most important funding sources, called PEG fees.

from: Gainseville.com

Cable, phone companies spar over regulatory system

LLOYD DUNKELBERGER

Sun Tallahassee Bureau
April 21. 2007 6:01AM

TALLAHASSEE - Cable companies are using the television airwaves to lobby against a bill that would make it easy for phone companies to compete in the cable market.

from: Boston.com

Verizon is pressured on network

By Carolyn Y. Johnson, Globe Staff | April 21, 2007

Senator John F. Kerry and Representative Edward J. Markey yesterday said they would send a letter to Verizon Communications Inc. demanding that it finish building a fiber-optic network to deliver TV, phone, and Internet service throughout Massachusetts.

from: SJ-R.com

Cable, phone industries up donations
Stakes high in fight over bill to promote competition

By DANA HEUPEL
STATE CAPITOL BUREAU

Published Saturday, April 14, 2007

As debate heats up over legislation to ease the way for telephone companies to compete with cable television firms, a new study shows that both sides have donated large sums to Illinois lawmakers and the governor over the past two years.

from: River Falls Journal

Does cable franchise bill pit David versus Goliath?

Phil Pfuehler River Falls Journal
Published Friday, April 20, 2007

Dawn Wills believes city residents who like to watch local cable for River Falls Days, high school football, basketball, hockey and wrestling, church shows, summer park concerts, poetry readings, City Council meetings, the Memorial Day parade, Chamber of Commerce banquets and more should be plenty worried by the Video Franchising Competition Bill.

from: The Badger Herald

Cable bill could turn off city public access channels

by Keegan Kyle
Friday, April 20, 2007

As two legislative committees approved a statewide video franchise bill this week, Madison public station managers predicted future budget cuts, the loss of one channel or increased taxes.

from: Desmoines Register

Statewide video franchise fee could curb soaring cable costs

By REP. CARMINE BOAL
IOWA HOUSE DISTRICT 70

April 20, 2007

Expected to come before the Iowa House this week is a bill designed to increase cable and video competition in Iowa, encourage improved service, lower rates and provide a greater diversity of products - all benefitting consumers.

from: Columbus Dispatch

Channel-surfers may get a break
Bill simplifying franchise fee may cut costs

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 3:32 AM
By Alan Johnson
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Ohio consumers could benefit from more choices, greater competition and lower prices because of what appears to be an undeclared truce in a long-standing turf battle between telephone and cable companies.

from: Coulee News

Cable bill creates new jobs

By JO ANNE KILLEEN | Staff writer
Published - Thursday, April 19, 2007
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While the mantra behind a proposed cable franchise bill is to get government out of the way of the free market in order to increase competition, proposed legislation to take over franchising of cable companies would create eight new government jobs, increase government costs and reduce state and local sales tax revenues.