Save Access

from: IndyBay

California PUC Elects to Not Fully Implement Cable Legislation AB 2987

by ron cooper
Monday Mar 5th, 2007 2:05 PM

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has rejected the oversight role the CA Legislature thought it had mandated in AB 2987. In a perfunctory vote, the state PUC rejected the protests of California cities and consumer groups, deciding against any direct oversight of the state's new statewide video-service franchises for phone and cable companies. PEG access provisions of the bill are now threatened.

from: LA Times

AT&T’s TV Rollout Slowed by Glitches

March 1, 2007
By James S. Granelli

California regulators are expected to adopt rules today to make it easier for phone companies to compete for cable TV customers. But don’t expect new competition next month — or even count on it next year.

from: PR Newswire

Group Calls on Speaker Nunez to Fix Video Franchise Law After PUC Rejects Oversight Role, Consumer Protections

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a
perfunctory vote Thursday, the state Public Utilities Commission rejected the protests of California cities and consumer groups, deciding against any direct oversight of the state's new statewide video-service franchises for phone and cable companies. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights called on Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to amend the law to provide the nondiscrimination and other protections that he said would be guaranteed.

from: Contra Costa Times

AT&T, Verizon spend millions to access California cable TV market

SAMANTHA YOUNG
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO - AT&T and Verizon, the two most dominant players in California's telephone market, spent nearly $26 million to lobby lawmakers last year in a successful effort to access the state's lucrative cable TV market.

from: Multichannel News

California Taps Telecom Panel

By Linda Haugsted 12/11/2006

Executives from Verizon Communications, AT&T and Cox Communications are among 21 industry leaders who will craft California’s future telecommunications policy as part of a task force named by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

from: U.S. Newswire

$4 Million Check from Dems to Nunez Looks Like Laundered AT&T Funds, Should Be Returned

Assembly Speaker Carried Cable Deregulation Bill for AT&T as Company Raised Money for Party

11/20/2006 3:11:00 PM

To: State Desk

Contact: Carmen Balber of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, 310-392-0522 ext. 324

from: MultiChannel News

Verizon Still in Local Calif. Franchise Talks

By Linda Haugsted 11/16/2006

Despite the fact that implementation of statewide-franchising rules is less than two months away, Verizon Communications is still negotiating local franchising agreements in California.

from: Riedel Communications

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Conquered By Temptation

I am way too old to be surprised or disappointed, but still I find myself in both predicaments.

The news that Alice Huffman, President of the California chapter of the NAACP, being paid $12,000 per month to lobby on at&t’s behalf in the recent state franchising legislation goes beyond surprise or disappointment straight to shock and disgust. No doubt her title as NAACP head put her in a perfect position to pull down this cash, which she did not earn on behalf of the chapter but on her own behalf. Then again, this payola comes in second to the $160,000 she took on behalf of big tobacco.

from:MetroActive

Crossed Wires

As San Jose hosts a community-media conference, it's become clear that the state's new cable legislation has hidden costs for consumers

By Diane Solomon

COMING SOON to cable TV: your phone company. Promising faster access to emerging technologies, more choices and lower rates for all, California legislators passed a law last month allowing phone companies to bypass cities and get statewide franchises to sell video services directly from California's Public Utilities Commission. Under prior law, pay TV providers, like Silicon Valley's Comcast, had to negotiate franchises city-by-city. As early as spring 2007, you'll be able to buy pay TV from phone companies.

from: Digital Destiny

Shame on the GOP and Dems in California: Gutting Community Oversight of Broadband

If we ever needed evidence about how both major political parties are in the pocket of the telecommunications industry’s very deep pockets, all we need to do is look at California. The new cable law kills the historic and critical role local governments have played in ensuring cable systems are held accountable and required to do public service. Now all franchising (the licensing of cable systems) will be governed by a single statewide agreement. Doling out these “one-size fits all, lowest common denominator” deals will be the feckless Public Utility Commission.