Save Access

Wauwatosa residents had expressed safety concerns over AT&T cabinets

Nearly a year before the recent explosion of an AT&T VRAD cabinet in Wauwatosa Wisconsin, some local residents had expressed safety concerns about the large boxes. At a February 12, 2007, City Planning Commission Meeting, residents opposed the installation of a VRAD box and had sent emails and information to the Commission making specific reference to the fires and explosions in Houston Texas.

Another AT&T U-verse VRAD Cabinet Explodes

Updates 1/15/08:
AT&T Begins Massive Battery Replacement (Light Reading).
Wauwatosa residents had expressed safety concerns over AT&T cabinets (Save Access)
Additional Photos (Light Reading 1/22/08)

In the early hours of Christmas morning, an AT&T VRAD cabinet (DSLAM) exploded in the city of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Only days earlier, Governor Jim Doyle had signed Assembly Bill 207, a statewide cable franchise bill pushed through by AT&T despite the best efforts of municipalities and public interest advocates to stop it. A saveaccess reader concerned over the lack of any local or regional news coverage sent us the following note with the attached photos:

from: Capital Times

Gov should have vetoed cable bill

An editorial — 1/07/2008 9:59 am

Gov. Jim Doyle recognized that Assembly Bill 207, the plan to restructure cable regulations to favor AT&T and other big telecom companies, was flawed legislation.

That recognition led Doyle to veto substantial portions of the proposal that was crafted by AT&T lobbyists and that critics say was advanced by Republicans in the Assembly and Democrats in the Senate in order to satisfy the demands of big campaign donors.

from: Journal Sentinal

Editorial: Competition for cable

A bill signed by Gov. Jim Doyle opens the state for increased competition in video services, which will help consumers if rule-making doesn't needlessly slow the process down.
From the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Dec. 26, 2007

Wisconsin residents should see the value of increased competition for video services now that cable television's hammerlock is about to be pried loose.

from: Madison.com

Prof: Don't hold breath for new services under state cable law

Jeff Richgels and Judith Davidoff — 12/22/2007 7:32 am

Gov. Jim Doyle's signing of the state cable franchising bill isn't likely to mean AT&T -- a leading backer of the bill -- will bring its U-verse TV service to the Madison area anytime soon, one prominent observer said.

from: WISPolitics.com

Gov. Doyle: Signs cable competition bill
12/21/2007

Contact: Carla Vigue, Office of the Governor,
608-261-2162 or 608-575-8577

Improves Consumer Protection Provisions

MADISON - Governor Jim Doyle today signed Assembly Bill 207, legislation that will provide Wisconsin consumers with more cable service choices. The Governor also preserved protections for cable customers through several vetoes.

from: 620 WTMJ

Governor Doyle Likely to Sign Cable Competition Bill

Story Updated: Dec 18, 2007

Governor Doyle today says he wants to sign a bill that would allow cable competition in Wisconsin.

The bill would basically super-cede local cable franchise agreements that exist across the state. Right now, any company that wanted to compete would have to work out agreements with all the municipalities.

from: Broadband Reports

Wisconsin Residents Have Concerns About U-Verse
State assembly changes franchise rules and plans move forward

01:33PM Saturday Dec 15 2007 by KathrynV

Earlier this week, the Wisconsin State Assembly agreed to change cable franchise rules and make them statewide.

from: Journal Sentinal

AT&T U-verse access debated
City's low-income areas often lack cable alternative

By RICK BARRETT and BEN POSTON
rbarrett@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Dec. 10, 2007

Offering more than 300 TV and music channels, plus high-speed Internet access, AT&T's new U-verse video service provides a dizzying array of features, such as the ability to program its video recorder via the Internet. Unlike its major cable-television rivals, it also offers the Big Ten Network and NFL Network.

from: The Badger Herald

Cable bill reaches governor’s office

by Jessi Polsky
Thursday, December 13, 2007

The Wisconsin State Assembly passed the Video Competition Act Tuesday night, making Gov. Doyle’s signature the last step before the bill becomes law.

If signed by Doyle, the bill will take the power to grant video franchises from local municipalities and place it in the hands of the state government.