MASSACHUSETTS

MA: Verizon suspends push for TV franchises

Posted on April 18, 2007 - 7:28am.

Verizon suspends push for Mass. TV franchises
Firm criticizes licensing process

By Carolyn Y. Johnson, Globe Staff | April 18, 2007

After spending an average of 15 months in each of 45 communities to win approval to offer television service, Verizon Communications Inc. has had enough for now: The company says it will stop seeking new applications in Massachusetts until it finishes all pending projects.

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( categories: MASSACHUSETTS | State Franchises | Verizon )

MA: 'Keep it Local' Website Launched

Posted on April 17, 2007 - 10:43pm.

Keep it Local MA

Local control over public access channels, rights of way, and equal access are in jeopardy thanks to phone companies' attempts to change the rules. They want to exclude you and your neighbors from the process.

Simply, the issue is local control of cable television by people who know you and your neighbors best. In Massachusetts, cities and towns decide what companies provide cable television to residents.

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( categories: MASSACHUSETTS | State Franchises | Verizon )

MA: Statewide cable franchising bad news

Posted on April 10, 2007 - 7:22pm.

from: Telegram.com

Statewide cable franchising bad news

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

The current local cable franchise system doesn’t discourage competition or consumer choice. This 25-year-old system has worked well, and for many communities in eastern Massachusetts there has been competition between RCN and Comcast for some 10 years. Also, throughout all municipalities in the state there are two other competitors in the form of satellite TV providers — Dish Network and Direct TV. In many communities, Verizon is the fifth provider of multi-channel video services, as defined by the FCC.

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( categories: MASSACHUSETTS | State Franchises | Verizon )

MA: What You Can Do to Oppose the Verizon Bill

Posted on April 10, 2007 - 10:16am.

from: CCTV

What You Can Do to Oppose the Verizon Bill

Last week, we wrote about a bill being considered on Beacon Hill that would change the way that cable franchising is done in the Commonwealth, You can read that story here http://www.cctvcambridge.org/node/1148.

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( categories: MASSACHUSETTS | State Franchises | Verizon )

MA: Cities, towns safeguard video consumer rights

Posted on April 8, 2007 - 3:25pm.

from: The Beacon

Cities, towns safeguard video consumer rights

From The Beacon, April 2007, Vol. XXXIII, #4

Municipal leaders are working mightily to balance local budgets, protect essential local services, restore local aid, pass the governor’s Municipal Partnership Act, reduce the property tax burden, and build a broader public understanding of the dramatic need to reinvest in cities and towns. This is valuable and necessary work, as our state’s economic future hangs in the balance.

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( categories: MASSACHUSETTS | State Franchises )

MA: Verizon working their lobbyist

Posted on April 5, 2007 - 9:01am.

from: Worcester Community Cable Access

Verizon working their lobbyist. Beward of scam articles and editorials

by mauro on April 3, 2007 - 2:31pm.

Recently a number of one sided articles and editorials have popped up in various news papers across the state including the Worcester Telegram calling attention to Verizon's lobbying efforts to change state legislation in order to eliminate local cable franchise authority and regulations that currently provide many tax free benefits to residents in our city.

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( categories: MASSACHUSETTS | State Franchises | Verizon )

MA: Verizon Presses Hard to Change Cable Franchising

Posted on April 2, 2007 - 10:16am.

from: CCTV

Verizon Presses Hard to Change Cable Franchising in the Commonwealth

Verizon, having failed to change cable franchising in Congress, is now pushing state legislation that would remove local control over the public rights of way and threaten funding for Public, Educational, and Governmental access channels and funding.

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( categories: MASSACHUSETTS | State Franchises | Verizon )

MA: Verizon Wants Filings Kept From Public

Posted on April 2, 2007 - 10:14am.

from: Boston Business Journal

Verizon Wants Filings Kept From Public

Todd, Wallack, Boston Business Journal
March 30, 2007

Over the last 14 months, Verizon Communications Inc. has launched TV service in 39 cities and towns across Massachusetts and won approval to enter four more.

But the phone giant doesn't want anyone to know how many customers have signed up for the service.

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( categories: MASSACHUSETTS | State Franchises | Verizon )

MA: Tax Battle Unites Enemies

Posted on March 20, 2007 - 8:52am.

from: MultiChannel News

Tax Battle Unites Enemies
By Linda Haugsted3/19/2007

The political season in Massachusetts is creating an interesting dynamic between the telephone and cable industries, which will fight tooth-and-nail on a cable franchise-reform bill this session but will link arms to fight Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to eliminate some decades-old personal property tax exemptions.

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( categories: MASSACHUSETTS | State Franchises )