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from: Waxing America

Looong Public Hearing on Video Bill

Today's public hearing of the Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities and the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Commerce Utilities and Rail on AB 207/SB 107 was an endurance marathon for both the legislators and their staff and for the 150 or so of us who attended to testify or observe or record. About 70 people registered to testify; probably about 50 actually did so since many had to leave as the afternoon wore on.

from: Waxing America

Wisconsin Legislature Holds Public Hearing on AT&T's Video Bill
March 27, 2007

The Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities and the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Commerce Utilities and Rail are holding a joint public hearing today (Tuesday) on AB/SB 207, the AT&T-backed, fast-tracked legislation that would create a new, almost entirely unregulated state-level franchise for video service and eliminate the current system of municipal cable franchises. We've bored you with the subject again and again and again.

from: Wisconsin Radio Network

Video competition bill draws mixed testimony

Tuesday, March 27, 2007, 5:41 PM
By Andrew Beckett

State lawmakers were faced with a wide variety of opinions Tuesday, on a proposal that would make it easier for video service providers to enter statewide markets. Nearly 75 people showed up to testify on the Video Competition Act before a joint legislative hearing. The act would allow providers to enter into a statewide video franchise agreement, instead of the current practice of negotiating with local governments.

Note: This is just a small example of the political weight a 260 billion dollar company can throw around in a state legislature. Texas set the standard in 2005 when AT&T and Verizon had one lobbyist for each state legislator. This isn't so much politics as a corporate takeover.

from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

from: Journal Times

News from around Wisconsin
Sun Mar 25, 2007

MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ A state bill would decrease the amount of money local governments receive from cable providers but would benefit consumers by increasing competition and driving down overall fees, according to AT&T lobbyists who are aggressively pushing the measure.

from: Wisconsin State Journal

Video bill on fast track

MARK PITSCH 608-252-6145
mpitsch@madison.com

Wisconsin residents would lose their rights to cable television repairs within 72 hours, credit for service interruptions and advance notice of rate increases, under a bill on the fast track in the state Legislature.

from: Capital Times

Statewide cable report rapped
By Jeff Richgels
The Capital Times

A new report from a conservative think tank that backs proposed statewide cable franchising is based on false assumptions, a critic said today.

The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute's report, prepared for release today, asserts that consumers on cable's basic and expanded basic tiers could save up to $149.01 yearly on their bills if cable competition were allowed.

from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Rebuff cable legislation
By BY BOB CHERNOW
Posted: March 18, 2007

What happens when a powerful utility like AT&T wants its way? It joins forces with competitors and uses lobbyists to change the rules of the game. That is what is happening to cable and video in the Legislature.

from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinal 3/16/07

Deal on Web TV reached
AT&T would pay city 5% in franchise-like agreement

By GREG J. BOROWSKI and DORIS HAJEWSKI

Milwaukee officials have reached a franchise-like agreement with AT&T that would allow the company to launch its Internet Protocol video service, billed as a competitor to cable television.

Elements of Milwaukee's agreement could become a model for area communities, where AT&T is also moving to offer its U-Verse service.

from: Fox Cities HD

Community access TV, including Oshkosh OCAT, threatened by statewide cable franchise bill

The following letter from Jon Urben at Oshkosh Community Access Television (OCAT) has been circulating online today and we felt it bore reprinting. The issues specific to OCAT as described below are certainly not exclusive to them. If you believe in the importance of community access television, please read on and forward this to others.