Save Access - MASSACHUSETTS

MA: IBEW Tries Mass. Organizing Of Comcast Workers

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:25:46 -0400

IBEW Tries Mass. Organizing Of Comcast Workers
Electrical Union Rallies, Sets Up Web Site Targeting Largest Cable Operator
By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 3/23/2008 5:22:00 AM

Comcast is in the crosshairs of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which has vowed to demonstrate nationwide at Comcast facilities in an effort to organize the company’s employees.

MA: Verizon under fire for FiOS

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:07:17 -0400

from: The Sun Chronicle

Verizon under fire for FiOS
BY TED NESI / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:05 AM EDT

Verizon has been under fire in recent months from critics who question why the company’s rollout of FiOS, its new fiber-optic cable television and Internet service, has mostly ignored Massachusetts’ cities, including Attleboro, Boston and Brockton, in favor of suburbs.

MA: Paying a bundle for cable upgrade

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:04:13 -0500

Note: Unlike AT&T, Verizon doesn't demand public interest concessions via state video franchises before upgrading their network, in fact Verizon seems to have had no problem negotiating hundreds of local franchises in MA, PA and NY. Perhaps AT&T should attend a communications seminar at Verizon?

from: Boston.com

Audio Documentary on Community Media in the YouTube Age

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 09:41:10 -0500

from: Community Media in Transition

Audio Documentary on Community Media in the YouTube Age
January 3rd, 2008 by Colin Rhinesmith

For his graduate audio production course at Emerson College, my fellow grad student and CCTV colleague John Donovan (above) sat down with staff and members at Cambridge Community Television to find out “why community media still matters” in a YouTube age.

MA: The Push Is On to Bring Broadband to Whole State

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 08:00:23 -0400

from: Boston Globe

The Push Is On to Bring Broadband to Whole State

From Boston Globe, August 12, 2007
By Carolyn Y. Johnson

Before Sharon E. Gillett took charge of the state’s newly formed Department of Telecommunications and Cable in May, she wrote reports about broadband access and policy. Now, she is shaping the state’s telecom landscape, starting with the Patrick administration’s $25 million initiative to bring high-speed Internet to 32 unserved communities, which she discussed with Globe reporter Carolyn Y. Johnson.

MA: Cable Bill Travels Down Slow Road

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:10:10 -0400

from: From Berkshire Eagle

Massachusetts Cable Bill Travels Down Slow Road

July 4, 2007
By Hillary Chabot

Lawmakers say a controversial bill meant to encourage cable competition might not pass this year because of fierce opposition from cities and towns.

Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, who is chairman of the telecommunications committee reviewing the bill, said that the bill is in no way dead, but that committee members need time to study it after mayors, city managers and other municipal officials statewide spoke out against it earlier this month.

MA: House Chairs on Verizon Bill: Not this Year

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:28:27 -0400

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.

MA: A Bad Start for Verizon

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 10:17:45 -0400

from: Mark Sardella

A BAD START FOR VERIZON

22Jun07
A major corporation comes to town and says whatever it needs to say so that local officials will let them do business here, and then waits for the town to threaten legal action before living up to its agreement.

I know–it’s shocking. But that’s exactly what communications mega-giant Verizon did to the town of Wakefield, Massachusetts in the last year.

MA: Massachusetts Video Franchise Bill Faces Delay

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:11:13 -0400

Massachusetts Video Franchise Bill Faces Delay

From Multichannel News, June 11, 2007
By Linda Haugsted

A vote on a bill that would reform cable franchising in Massachusetts, much criticized by local officials, may be headed for a 90-day delay.

The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos (D-Lowell) has recommended that a task force study the measure, which would move franchising authority to the state’s Department of Telecommunications and Energy. He began publicly suggesting the bill needed more work even before a June 5 hearing on the Verizon Communications Inc.-backed bill before the Joint Committee on Utilities, Telecommunications and Energy.

MA: Massachusetts Bill Faces Delay

Sat, 09 Jun 2007 10:39:35 -0400

from: MultiChannel News

Massachusetts Bill Faces Delay

By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 6/11/2007

A vote on a bill that would reform cable franchising in Massachusetts, much criticized by local officials, may be headed for a 90-day delay.

MA: Verizon seems to flip-flop on local video approvals

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:26:26 -0400

from: Boston Globe

Verizon seems to flip-flop on local video approvals
Firm tells investors need to get local OK's not hurting TV rollout

By Carolyn Y. Johnson, Globe Staff | June 5, 2007

MA: Video Report On Verizon Bill State House Public Hearing

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:10:00 -0400

from: SCAT TV

Report On Verizon Bill State House Public Hearing

Click To Play

Report dated June 5, 2007

The Joint Committee on Telecommunications held a public hearing at the Gardiner Auditorium in the MA State House to hear testimony on the "Verizon" bill. S. 1975 H. 3385

Many local communities spoke to defeat the bill.

If your community access television station would like a cablecast quality copy to show, or would like to hotlink this video on their web site....please contact Somerville Channel 3 at (617) 628-8826.

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MA: Video Report On Verizon Bill State House Public Hearing

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:10:00 -0400

Report On Verizon Bill State House Public Hearing

Click To Play

Report dated June 5, 2007

The Joint Committee on Telecommunications held a public hearing at the Gardiner Auditorium in the MA State House to hear testimony on the "Verizon" bill. S. 1975 H. 3385

Many local communities spoke to defeat the bill.

0 comments

MA: Communities must retain local cable control

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 07:40:54 -0400

from: Patriot Ledger

SPEAK OUT: Communities must retain local cable control

By FRANK LYNAM

Consumers in Massachusetts have a great deal at stake if the Legislature approves special-interest legislation to eliminate municipalities from the cable licensing and renewal process.

MA: Strong Opposition to Verizon Bill at Cable Franchising Hearing

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 07:38:26 -0400

from: CCTV

Strong Opposition to Verizon Bill at Cable Franchising Hearing

I recently returned from the first half of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy hearing on cable franchising in Gardner Auditorium at the MA State House today. The near capacity-filled room was dotted with bright yellow, green, and pink stickers that read, "Don't Mess with Access" worn by opponents of the bill.