Save Access - OHIO

OH: State video franchising: Where are the competitors?"

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:42:00 -0400

State video franchising: Where are the competitors?

This post and comments at BFD got me wondering: How’s that brave new world of competitive IPTV and sizzling broadband that Ohioans were promised last summer — when the General Assembly overwhelmingly approved and the Governor happily signed SB 117, AT&T’s “cable franchise reform” bill — coming along?

OH: Wadsworth irked over funding halt by Time Warner

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:53:32 -0500

Medina Gazette

Wadsworth irked over funding halt by Time Warner
February 6th, 2008
By MARIA KACIK
Staff Writer

The city of Wadsworth may take official action against Time Warner Cable after the company halted its funding of a portion of the city’s public education and government (PEG) programming on WCTV.

OH: "Connect Ohio" Project Embraces CWA's Speed Matters Campaign

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 08:17:37 -0500

from: Union Network

"Connect Ohio" Project Embraces CWA's Speed Matters Campaign

- Labour news from UNI global union - for trade unions in a global services economy.

Determined to bring high-speed internet access to all of Ohio, CWA's District 4 has helped launch a private-public partnership in the state that will identify underserved areas and build coalitions to attract investment. Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland announced the program, called Connect Ohio, this week at a news conference attended by CWA District 4 Vice President Seth Rosen, as well as members of the telecom industry.

OH: State lets Cincinnati Bell offer cable TV in 3 counties

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:35:53 -0500

from: The Enquirer

State lets Cincinnati Bell offer cable TV in 3 counties
BY MIKE BOYER | MBOYER@ENQUIRER.COM

Cincinnati Bell Inc. on Thursday became the third company in Ohio authorized to offer cable TV service under a new state law designed to encourage cable competition.

OH: Ohio Grants State Franchise to Time Warner

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:20:58 -0500

from: Ohio Department of Commerce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/14/2007

Contact: Barney Wolf at (614) 644-7115
barney.wolf@com.state.oh.us
or

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

VIDEO-SERVICE AUTHORIZATION GRANTED TO TIME WARNER CABLE

Cable provider receives 10-year approval

Ohio Commerce Director Kimberly Zurz today granted statewide video-service authorization to Time Warner Cable LLC.

OH: AT$T Wins Statewide Ohio Franchise

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:18:31 -0500

from: MultiChannel News

AT&T Wins Statewide Ohio Franchise
Telco Is First Provider to Win Agreement Under New Franchising Law
By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 11/8/2007 8:42:00 AM

AT&T has become the first provider to be granted statewide video service authority under terms of Ohio’s new state franchising law.

OH: AT$T to rob $500M from Ohio Citizens

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:19:30 -0400

Note: OK, we confess to creative license on the title alteration, but frankly we're very tired of seeing these self-laudatory corporate press releases being picked up by local press as fact and as evidence of corporate benevolence on the part of the telcos' recent legislative scams. AT&T, like Verizon, is making a fortune off such misinformation and deceit. With their merger with SBC, AT&T promised to cut 10,000 jobs right off the bat, then there's the multi-million dollar contracts with the NSA and FBI to violate your privacy, finally, as in Ohio, they've succeeded in deregulating the cable TV market and are now eliminating the residents' First Amendment Rights by de-funding public access and PEG TV. Also note, the Internet Innovation Alliance is funded by AT&T and likely is nothing more than a staff of three PR agents copying and pasting these press releases. But we digress - on to the self-celebratory corporate text . . . hooray for competition and DSL quality broadband!

OH: State takes control of cable TV franchises

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:38:39 -0400

from: News Herald

State takes control of cable TV franchises

David S. Glasier
DGlasier@News-Herald.com
09/24/2007

Department of Commerce now awards state television and wire-video franchises

The channel is changed in the Buckeye State.
Beginning today, the Ohio Department of Commerce assumes responsibility for awarding cable TV franchises and wire-video franchises such as AT&T U-verse.

OH: Bill forcing Athens to look at fees, rights-of-way

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 07:55:30 -0400

from: Athens Messenger

Bill forcing Athens to look at fees, rights-of-way
September 07, 2007

CASEY S. ELLIOTT
Staff Writer

The passage of a bill in the Ohio Legislature that affected rights-of-way in municipalities and cable franchise fees, among other things, might not be as severe as Athens city officials have feared.

OH: Video ‘Competition’ In Ohio Begins To Spark Complaints

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 09:25:20 -0400

from: USTV Media

Video ‘Competition’ In Ohio Begins To Spark Complaints
August 29th, 2007 by Andy in Media and Democracy

Seems that some towns in Ohio are starting to receive a number of complaints from residents regarding AT&T’s solicitors. Here is a letter from one Ohio resident to their local municipal officials regarding rude and pushy behavior on the part of AT&T employees.

OH: Officials get cable TV law update

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:53:07 -0400

from: Marietta Times

Officials get cable TV law update
Thursday, August 02, 2007

By Connie Cartmell, ccartmell@mariettatimes.com

Marietta City Councilman Tom Vukovic initially had serious reservations about deregulation of cable television in Ohio.

Today Vukovic, a member of council’s special public utilities committee, has learned more about the process, brought about through Senate Bill 117, and has fewer concerns.

OH: State Franchise = No Reduced Bills or Competion

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 07:44:49 -0400

from: Tech and Communications Today

State Wide Video/Cable TV Franchise Laws= No Reduced Bills or Competion

Posted by technology2day

This month Governor Strickland signed into law State-wide video franchise bill. This bill of course was sponsored and paid for by AT&T, and Verizon along with their lobbing groups they created to ensure the public this was the greatest thing for Ohio. Do you know what a State Wide Video Franchise Law is? If you answered No, then you’re like most people.

OH: New cable providers bill affects townships

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:11:34 -0400

from: The Review

New cable providers bill affects townships

By LEIGH ANN KAISER (lkaiser@reviewonline.com)

Liverpool Township Trustee Karl Kontnier recently aired his frustration regarding Ohio Senate Bill 117 which was signed into law by Gov. Ted Strickland June 25.

The bill, which passed by a 94-2 vote in the house and a 33-0 vote in the senate, will dissolve the right of local governments to negotiate contracts with cable providers to establish a statewide franchise.

OH: A right cross to Waycross Bill would cut franchise revenues

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:17:30 -0400

FROM: Hilltop Press, June 20, 2007

A right cross to Waycross Bill would cut franchise revenues
By Heidi Fallon
hfallon@communitypress.com

Legislation working its way to the governor's desk will have dire consequences for Waycross Community Television.

Senate Bill 117, which passed in the House of Representatives June 14 with a 92-2 vote, is "very unfortunate for Ohio consumers," according to Chip Bergquist, Waycross executive director.

OH: Gov. Strickland signs lower cost cable bill

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:10:52 -0400

from: The Morning journal

06/26/2007
Gov. Strickland signs lower cost cable bill
MEGAN KING , Morning Journal Writer

LORAIN -- The cable bill that local officials fear will jeopardize their cable franchise fees was signed into law yesterday by Gov. Ted Strickland.