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from: Chon.com

$4M Spent to Lobby AT&T-Cable Issue

By BETH RUCKER Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press
May 18, 2007, 4:08PM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The battle over legislation that would ease AT&T's entry into the cable TV market has led to nearly $4 million being spent in lobbying efforts over the past six months _ making it the state's most expensive lobbying issue this year.

Note: We think hell is big enough for both the cable industry and the telephone industry.

from: Nashville Post

Cable industry should 'rot in Hell', says AT&T supporter

Luke Froeb
05-18-2007 2:06 PM

UPDATED 5:08 P.M.: U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson Gina Talamona confirmed late this afternoon that Assistant Attorney General Barnett recently wrote to members of the Tennessee General Assembly to express views consistent with the Wisconsin letter cited in this story. Details were not immediately available. Talamona said that in keeping with DoJ's "competition-advocacy role," Barnett's communications stress concerns about barriers to competition, and are generally silent on remedial actions that might have been undertaken by the FCC and other agencies.

from: Knoxville News Sentinel

Is Tennessee Ready for AT&T to Enter Cable Market?

May 18, 2007

A bill making its way through the Legislature would allow communications giant AT&T to enter the cable television market in Tennessee under the argument that increased competition will result in reduced prices and better service.

from: The Tennessean

Don't turn local franchising of cable over to the profit sector

By ELLIOTT MITCHELL
Wednesday, 05/16/07
Tennessee Voices

As a volunteer board member of Nashville's Metropolitan Educational Access Corp., I have been extremely interested in AT&T's proposal for video-franchising legislation because it threatens the future of public, educational and governmental access (PEG) channels across Tennessee.

from: Knox News

TV cable bill piles up lobby costs

Funds spent for and against measure total $2M each side

By TOM HUMPHREY, tomhumphrey3@aol.com
May 16, 2007

NASHVILLE - Lobbying in support of legislation to revise state cable television law has cost almost $2 million, roughly the same amount as lobbying against it, according to disclosures filed Wednesday with the Tennessee Ethics Commission.

from: Nashville City Paper

The $4 million cable battle – so far

By John Rodgers, jrodgers@nashvillecitypaper.com

AT&T, in its battle against cable companies and local governments to get into the television business, has spent $1.55 to $1.6 million on lobbying expenses inside and outside the state Capitol, according to records filed Tuesday with the Tennessee Ethics Commission.

from: WDEF.com

Cable Competition, Could Tuesday Be Time To Vote?

Submitted by Joe Legge on May 14, 2007

I promised to keep you updated on the "Cable Competition" bill proposed in the Tennessee Legislature. I haven't forgotten. There just really isn't much new to report. Lawmakers continue to hold hearings on the matter, hearing from AT&T, Comcast, Charter, and a host of other entities involved.

from: Knox Views

News Sentinel editorial on AT&T cable franchise bill

by R. Neal
Tue, 2007/05/08