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from: MultiChannel News

Franchise-Reform Bill Withdrawn in Tennessee

(Multichannel News) _ Citing opposition from local governments, the sponsor of a Tennessee bill to reform cable franchising http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/HB1421.pdf is withdrawing the legislation.

from: MetroPulse

Big Bucks
The full-employment-for-lobbyist bill this year is about your cable bill

by Frank Cagle

Every legislative session there is a full-employment-for-lobbyist bill--some battle between well-heeled business interests requiring a squadron of wheeler dealers to advise our citizen legislators on what's good for the folks back home.

from: Knox Views

AT&T cable bill to be withdrawn

Submitted by R. Neal on Thu, 2007/05/24

Sponsors of the AT&T statewide cable franchise bill say they will withdraw the bill for this year. They didn't feel they would have they votes and they are disappointed by the lack of support from local governments. It will likely be back for the 2008 session.

from: The City Paper

AT&T bill for cable franchising delayed until ’08, lawmakers say
By John Rodgers, jrodgers@nashvillecitypaper.com
May 24, 2007

AT&T-backed legislation to allow the telecom to get a statewide television franchise to start competing against cable companies will be delayed until 2008, key lawmakers said Wednesday.

from: Nashville Scene

Cable Wars
While King Kong and Godzilla fight, public access stations try not to get flattened

by Jim Ridley

When David fights Goliath, everybody has a rooting stake in the underdog. But what happens when one Goliath opens a slingshot of whoop-ass on another? For many people, it’s hard to work up much outrage for the current battle royale on Capitol Hill over cable franchising legislation—a tussle that essentially pits AT&T’s Engulf vs. Comcast’s Devour, with Tennessee cable subscribers watching only to see which hairy foot will be the one to land on them.

from: Knox Views

AT&T cable bill clears Senate Commerce Committee
Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2007/05/23

Tom Humphrey files this report. There was some drama involving e-mails, high-profile lobbyists, and an exchange between an AT&T lobbyist and Sen. Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville), who objected to being called an "obstructionist." He voted against the bill in the committee.

from: Know Views

Local cable control getting unplugged

I haven't been following the AT&T/cable legislation much, but bloggers Joe Powell and R. Neal have.

Joe Powell: As I've written before, I have no opposition to AT&T wanting to jump into the cable business - but to make that decision only after state law is altered, only after local control of cable franchises has been removed, provides no benefit to the consumer and muddles the procedures for how such franchises would be held accountable.

Today the Senate Commerce Committee approved the ATT Bill. Unclear if it moves directly to the floor or to another Committee. One of the amendments (PEG/INET amendment) approved today I think protected somewhat existing PEG and INET’s, I don’t have the exact language so unclear how far that amendment goes.

The House Commerce Committee continued discussions but did not vote on the Bill today. They will have a joint meeting tomorrow morning with the State and Local Committee then in the afternoon they may reconvene to discuss and vote on it.

from: Cup of Joe

Battle Intense on Flawed Cable Franchise Change
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Once again today, state legislatures take up the issue of some very unwise changes to how cable franchises are provided and regulated. It's been the single most dollar-gulping lobby effort this year in state government, with current spending at just over $4 million. (And that's just the amount as of April of this year.)

from: Knox Views

Tennessee Legislative update
Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2007/05/21 - 12:20pm.

The AT&T sponsored cable franchise bill is back on the calendar for tomorrow in both the House Commerce and Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture committees. Previous posts about the bill can be found here and here. (The Senate version now has ten amendments and I haven't had time to read them. Does anybody know what they say?)