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from: El Paso Times

El Paso to expand cable government channel
By David Crowder / El Paso Time
Article Launched: 11/19/2007 12:00:00 AM MST

When Time Warner gets out of the business of broadcasting local government meetings on cable Channel 15 in January, El Paso's City Hall will take over and has big plans for a full-time government TV channel.

from: Our Channels Indiana

Comcast Closes Public Access TV Studios Across Northern Indiana
Written by Andrea Price, on Sunday, 18 November 2007

A year and a half after the enactment of the Indiana Telecommunications Reform Act of 2006, Comcast notified producers in South Bend, Hammond, Merrillville, Mishawaka, Plymouth, Goshen, and Portage -- and Edwardsburg, Michigan - that it would be closing production studios and playback facilities for public access TV.

from: Knox News

Lobbying costs hit $11M in AT&T, cable TV industry battle

By Tom Humphrey (Contact)
Tuesday, November 20, 2007

NASHVILLE - Lobbying expenses in Tennessee's legislative war between AT&T and the cable television industry reached the $11 million plateau this year, according to reports filed with the Tennessee Ethics Commission by major participants.

from: Madison.com

SAT., NOV 17, 2007 - 11:05 PM
Cable bill may not be boon to consumers
By MARK PITSCH
608-252-6145
mpitsch@madison.com

Supporters of a statewide cable competition bill, including telecommunications giant AT&T, have been saying for more than a year that the measure will offer Wisconsin consumers more television choices and lower prices.

from: Madison.com

SAT., NOV 17, 2007 - 11:06 PM
Cable competition bill's other consequences

If the cable competition bill becomes law as expected, it won't only affect whether more than one company offers paid-television services in some communities:

CUSTOMER SERVICE: Local governments wouldn 't be able to require companies to meet certain customer service standards.

from: The Altoona Star

Cable and video franchising: We deserve better
November 16th, 2007 by Senator Vinehout

Imagine a world in which only a machine answered the phone when you went to complain about your cable service, or your service was turned off even though your bill said you owed nothing. Where large refrigerator-size boxes were placed in your front yard and you had no say over them, or your street was torn up by a private company and local taxpayers had to pay to clean up the mess.

from: Herald-News

Chamber Discusses Video Franchise Bill

November 14, 2007
By John B. Carpenter

The Dayton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors stopped short of a formal endorsement of video franchising reform legislation Monday but generally expressed approval for AT&T’s bid for a statewide franchise to provide TV programming over its existing network of telephone lines.

from: Times Gazette

Cable / phone fight heats up again
Friday, November 16, 2007
By Brian Mosely

The cable television industry is gearing up for another fight in the Tennessee State Legislature against AT&T, which is planning to promote a bill next year that the cable industry claims would hurt consumers by dismantling the local franchise law.

from: News Channel 9

Cable Wars Continue in Chattanooga

November 15, 2007
By Karen Zatkulak

It’s another bill that most everyone says is just too high — cable. But right now, folks in Chattanooga only have one choice for that service. City council members want to change the situation.

from: Knox News

AT&T wins over Hamilton County

In advance of the next legislative session, AT&T representatives have been working hard to convince local governments across Tennessee that its statewide video-services franchising proposal won't mean fewer fees and less control for cities and counties.