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from: Missourian News

Channels would face funding issues
Bill doesn’t designate revenue for Columbia Access Television, other public channels after 2011

March 20, 2007

By EMILY RISTOW

With approval of the statewide video franchising bill by the Missouri General Assembly, Columbia Access Television and other public, educational and government channels throughout Missouri face a lack of guaranteed funding after Jan. 1, 2012.

from: Colombia Tribune

City leaders fear effects of cable bill
Deal with Mediacom might become moot.

By MATTHEW LeBLANC of the Tribune’s staff
Published Monday, March 19, 2007

A measure that would allow the state to control local cable TV franchise agreements has Columbia leaders upset.

from: News-Leader

Bill likely to alter cable services in Springfield

News-Leader Staff and Wire Services

Jefferson City — Legislators gave final approval Thursday to legislation intended to spur video competition by making it easier for telecommunications companies such as AT&T to offer television service in Missouri.

Missourian News

Cable bill switches control of TV from city to state
Governor’s approval expected for bill that gives more cable access to companies

By CLIFF AINSWORTH
March 16, 2007

JEFFERSON CITY — A bill that landed on Gov. Matt Blunt’s desk Thursday could drastically alter the way cable television service is offered to Missourians.

from: Kansas City Business Journal

Statewide video franchise bill advances in Missouri

Kansas City Business Journal
March 15, 2007

The Missouri House on Wednesday approved a bill to allow both telephone and cable companies to secure statewide video franchise agreements in Missouri.

from: Belleville News Democrat

House votes for cable competition bill

DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press
Posted on Wed, Mar. 14, 2007

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A bill intended to spur competition with cable TV companies won overwhelmingly approval Wednesday in the Missouri House.

The legislation would make it easier for AT&T Inc. and other traditional telephone companies to begin offering television service over their wires.

from: KC Community News

Students testify before legislature against cable bill

Bill could jeopardize award-winning Channel 18
By: Natalie Shelton
Wednesday, March 7, 2007 4:13 PM CST

With the future of Liberty school district’s KLPS Channel 18 made uncertain by a proposed Missouri bill, high school students traveled to Jefferson City last week to testify before a House committee against the measure.

From: Columbia Tribune

AT&T Plays Hardball with ‘Astroturf’

February 27, 2007
By J. Scott Christianson

Tomorrow the House Special Committee on Utilities will consider SB 284, the Missouri Video Franchise Bill. I wrote Feb. 6 that SB 284 is a bad bill. It would reduce public oversight of the cable companies that use public easements, it would essentially eliminate local PEG (public, education and government) channels, it would allow telecom companies to cherry-pick high-profit customers, and it would reduce the ability of government to audit those companies for compliance with the law.

from: Kansas City Business Journal

Franchise bill's appeal fades for cable providers in Missouri

February 22, 2007
by Jason Shaad

A Missouri bill lauded for increasing competition in the state's cable market has lost a bit of its luster for cable companies.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved a bill to streamline the process for letting new service providers enter the television market in Missouri. The bill would allow both telephone and cable companies to secure statewide franchise agreements rather than negotiate individual franchise agreements with local governments, which is the current requirement for offering service.

Note: AT&T continues to pursue local franchises in Missouri while also pushing for a statewide franchise.

from: STL Today

AT&T video plan meets with a delay
By Mark Schlinkmann
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/21/2007

ST. CHARLES — A proposal to allow AT&T, the state's largest telephone company, to offer video services in St. Charles ran into a delay Tuesday night at the City Council.