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from: Independent Weekly

Touch that dial
What happens when telecom companies write state legislation? Check your wallet.

BY FIONA MORGAN
JULY 11, 2007

Beware of legislation promising "competition." A bill passed by the General Assembly last year that was intended to jump-start competition in the cable TV industry has had the unforeseen consequence of costing the state and local governments across North Carolina millions of dollars in lost revenue. And six months after the law went into effect, that promised competition is nowhere in sight.

from: The Independent Weekly

JUNE 6, 2007
Cities fight bill to limit broadband
Legislature considers move some call "No Competition Act"

BY FIONA MORGAN

The state legislature is considering a bill that would severely restrict the ability of local governments to provide broadband Internet access. It would affect everything from Chapel Hill's evolving plan for downtown wi-fi access to city partnerships with private industry to some rural communities' efforts to provide access to citizens stuck with nothing but dial-up.

from: Wilson Times

Bill would protect monopolies
Tuesday, May 29, 2007

The short title of the bill is "The Local Government Fair Competition Act," but the honest title should be "The Monopolies Protection Act."

The bill, which is in committee in the N.C. House, would establish a series of hurdles for local governments seeking to provide communications services, including telephone, cable television and Internet connections. While some of the provisions can be justified, others are transparently intended to discourage cities or counties from creating competing networks, such as the fiber-optic network the city of Wilson is already installing.

Note: Telcos and Cable Companies are also fighting municipal efforts at offering local residents additional competition for data/phone/cable services.

from: Wilson Daily News

Fiberoptics causes upset

By Matthew Shaw Daily Times Staff Writer

Wilson officials clashed Thursday night with a Time Warner Cable representative over the city's plans for a fiberoptic network.

Another state in the sights of Telco state franchising efforts. If you have contacts in North Carolina, alert them to this news ASAP. See www.ncccmc.org for more info/

Friends,

A bill in the N.C. House of Representatives, HB 2047, "The Video Service Competition Act", would eliminate local government authority over cable TV franchising, consolidating the power to grant local video franchises in Raleigh.