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from: The Inquirer

FiOS: Nearing Full Speed
Posted on Sun, Feb. 24, 2008

By Bob Fernandez
Inquirer Staff Writer

Two years ago, Gus Gadonas saw the Verizon lineman stringing fiber-optic FiOS wires through his neighborhood in East Pikeland Township, Chester County. He ordered the new FiOS high-speed Internet service right away.

from: Union Network

CWA Presses for Cable Choice Bill in Pennsylvania

02/08/2008

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

CWA this week urged Pennsylvania legislators to approve the Consumer Choice Cable Franchising and High-Speed Broadband Promotion Act, H.B 1490, to encourage the buildout of true high speed Internet networks and end the current cable monopoly in the state.

from: WHTM.com

Cable TV Oversight Could Shift To State
posted 6:38 pm Thu February 07, 2008 -

The State House Consumer Affairs Committee is considering a bill that would eliminate the local franchise agreements for cable TV companies. Instead the State Public Utility commission would deal with cable. Norman Stanton of Halifax wants to dump dial-up internet service because his wife is taking online college courses. "Every time she starts her homework," says Stanton, "You're knocked off the dial-up. So we have to have a high-speed internet." Stanton ordered Comcast high speed internet more than month ago. He got a bill but getting his high speed installed has been slow. "Every time you call you talk to somebody different," says Stanton. "And nobody knows what the other one said." Stanton also complained to his local borough about Comcast but a state lawmaker wants to change all that.

Note the wonderful statement by Verizon's spokesperson:
"In a marketplace like this, oftentimes the competitor won't respond by lowering prices, but will respond in other ways" such as offering discounts as incentives to keep its service, said Gierczynski of Verizon.

from: Pittsburgh Live

from: Penn Live

More choices for viewers
Statewide cable franchise law would meet high-tech potential
Saturday, October 27, 2007

Verizon's opening of a regional video hub in Harrisburg paves the way for local consumers to have a choice of cable television providers. But only after franchise agreements have been negotiated with individual municipalities.

from: Philly.com

Public-Access TV
Past its scheduled time, but here

Philadelphia is about to lose its dubious distinction as the largest American city without a public-access cable television outlet for amateur programming.

Heard that before, right? Well, this time it's for real.

from: The Bulletin

Public Access TV Coming To Philadelphia

By: Jenny DeHuff, The Bulletin
09/19/2007

Philadelphia - With combined efforts from Comcast Corporation and the Philadelphia Community Access Coalition (PCAC), public access television is one step closer to staking a claim in the airwaves.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anthony Riddle, Executive Director

Alliance Celebrates Opening of Public Access In Philadelphia

Alliance members nationwide celebrate the announcement of formal agreement between the City and Comcast to open a Public Access facility in Philadelphia, PA. Our congratulations go out to all the elected officials, company executives and, most of all, the dedicated community organizations and activists, such as the Philadelphia Community Access Coalition, who have worked tirelessly for almost 25 years to bring this about. It has been a long, hard struggle, but finally the city which historically most represents the ideals of democracy and freedom will have the benefit of Public Access—the voice of community in the electronic age.

FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS ON THE ACCESS FRONT IN PHILLY....

We are on our way to making public access cable television a reality in Philadelphia!

We are calling on all public access supporters to come out to a press conference Tuesday September 18th. PCAC, along with Mayor Street and Comcast, will be sharing exciting news about the future of public access. We have a lot to celebrate, so please join us!

from: Morning Times

Athens Township: State could take over local cable franchise agreements

By WARREN HOWELER Times Managing Editor
Published: Thursday, August 30, 2007 10:52 PM CDT
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ATHENS TOWNSHIP - The Athens Township Supervisors this week approved a 10 year renewal of the municipality's franchise agreement with Time Warner Cable and it could end up being the last such agreement that the township has with its local cable company.