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from: Blogging Broadband

Adrian, Michigan Files Complaint Against Comcast

It’s been almost nine months since Michigan’s “Uniform Video Services Local Franchise Act” became effective. The third complaint under that new law was filed by the City of Adrian, Michigan late last week.

Although anxiety has been building for some time over the positions being taken by Comcast, Adrian’s complaint was the first to be filed under the new law against the nation’s dominant cable company. According to the pleading, Comcast’s actions violated at least two sections of the new statute. First, Comcast allegedly represented to the Michigan Public Service Commission that the City had taken no action on the company’s Uniform Franchise application in the first 30 days, and, therefore, that the Uniform Franchise had been approved by operation of law. According to the City, however, a finding had been made that Comcast’s application was incomplete — Comcast simply ignored the conclusion and represented the matter differently to the MPSC.

from: MultiChannel News

Michigan Commission Rejects Complaint on AT&T U-verse

(Multichannel News) _ The Michigan Public Service Commission rejected a complaint by access producers regarding the way AT&T's U-verse Internet protocol video service intends to deliver local programming.

from: Great Lakes IT Report

Public access programmers, AT&T feud over U-Verse carriage
Posted on 8/21/2007 5:29:48 PM

A group backing local cable access media Tuesday announced that it had filed a complaint against AT&T Inc. with the Michigan Public Service Commission for failing to carry their programming.

Note: The wonderful fallout of 'more competition' and 'consumer friendly' bills.

from: Multichannel News

Comcast Cuts Free Drops

(Multichannel News) _ Local Michigan governments are publicly criticizing cable operators there for taking advantage of a state law, for instance, cutting most of its free cable services to firehouses and police stations.

from: Crains Detroit

Detroit, Comcast spar over fee
By Amy Lane
3:01 am, August 6, 2007

LANSING — A dispute between the city of Detroit and Comcast Corp. is driving legislation that would strengthen cities' ability to require certain fees from providers of cable TV and similar video services.

from: Spinal Column

Changes in new cable law proposed

Kirk Pinho
August 01, 2007 - A two-bill legislative package designed to simplify the state's new cable television franchising agreement procedure has been introduced in the Michigan Senate.

from: Spinal Column

Commerce, AT&T may be close to utility box agreement

Kirk Pinho

July 18, 2007 - A proposed ordinance in Commerce Township which has sparked concern among AT&T officials and some township residents appears to be nearing finalization, as legal counsel for both the township and the telecommunications company continue to iron out their differences over the ordinance provisions.

from: Blogging Broadband

Congratulations, AT&T?

It has been a little more than six months since Michigan’s state legislators passed 2006 PA 480, the “Uniform Video Services Local Franchising Act.” The purpose of the new law was to streamline the video franchising process so more competition in cable services could develop. Traditionally, a video provider would have to negotiate with a local government for a franchise which would authorize the company to provide video service to the community’s residents. AT&T and other large phone companies claimed that negotiations with each local government were too time consuming and would hamper the rollout of competitive services. So Michigan’s state legislators gave AT&T what it was after: A process that allows the company to walk into any city hall and get a video franchise within 30 days, without any negotiation.

from: Spinal Column

AT&T entrance into local market prompts utility box concerns

June 06, 2007 - Recent enactment of a new state law pertaining to cable television franchising is the catalyst for AT&T approaching several local communities for permission to begin providing Internet protocol (IP) television, Internet and phone service in the lakes area. Officials in some communities — while not trying to stifle competition for Comcast — have concerns with the new law, which some have argued will curb funding through set fees the service providers pay. Other municipal officials fear utility upgrades by AT&T could have negative aesthetic and public safety effects in their communities, which receive revenues from cable companies in two ways.

Note: Michigan passed the state video franchise bill Jan. 1 2007. Last week, AT&T made a big splash announcing that they now provide service in Michigan. The law provides that PEG channels be carried within 90 days, but AT&T still does not have answers on how that will work. The transcript below is from the public meeting of the Southwestern Oakland Cable Commission. This is what happens when AT&T gets their legislation and finally come to town to start service - they haven't a clue what they are doing.