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rom: ZDNet.com

June 29th, 2007
A tale of two states’ video competition bills: one good, one bad

If you think that (at least some) politicians aren’t resting neatly in the pockets of telecom companies, think again. When Bob Chernow, long time chairman of the Regional Telecommunications Commission in southwestern Wisconsin, finally (it took 45 days of calling to get a meeting) met with Rep. Phil Montgomery, author of an AT&T-pushed bill calling for deregulation of the cable industry, it was not a happy meeting of the minds, reports the Capital Times

from: The Capital Times

Cut out: Consumer advocates say they're left out of the cable bill

Judith Davidoff — 6/28/2007 11:58 am

Bob Chernow has been chairman of the Regional Telecommunications Commission for two decades. The commission negotiates cable franchise agreements on behalf of 33 communities in southwestern Wisconsin, representing about half of the state's population and cable subscribers.

from: FoxCity HD

HD Rants: Statewide cable franchising flops in Texas. Worried yet?

According to a survey by the Texas Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, as told in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, multichannel TV service rates have actually increased rather than decreased as promised by supporters of statewide deregulation. Texas was the first state to adopt statewide TV service franchising similar to that proposed by legislators and heavily backed by AT&T in Wisconsin. The Texas Public Utility Commission fields consumer complaints but has no staff to follow through on them, leaving customers to deal with the service providers directly.

from: Waxing America

June 08, 2007

Mayor Dave Calls AT&T Boxes "Graffiti Magnets" and Joe Wineke Jumps Off the AT&T Gravy Train

Judith Davidoff has the story in today's Capital Times about Madison's unwillingness to allow AT&T free reign to plant its big video boxes all over the public rights-of-way:

from: The Capital Times

AT&T boxes big and ugly, mayor warns

Judith Davidoff — 6/08/2007 10:47 am

More than 300 hulking, refrigerator-size "graffiti magnets" could soon sprout in Madison yards if state lawmakers pass a controversial cable TV deregulation bill, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz is warning.

"There would be hundreds of these boxes throughout the city," Cieslewicz said in an interview this week. "They would be on the street right-of-way and also in people's backyards. They are large -- five feet by four feet -- they make a visual statement and they could be graffiti magnets."

from: Wisconsin Technology Network

In a fast-paced economy, lawmakers must pick up speed

Tom Still • Published 06/05/07

Madison, Wis. - For reasons that may be as innocent as a choked calendar, legislative progress has stalled on a bill that would trade Wisconsin's city-by-city regulation of the cable television industry for statewide video franchises. The bill, which would create jobs, help many consumers and speed new technologies to the market, passed the Assembly by a wide margin earlier this spring. Since then, however, it has been gathering dust in the Senate.

from: Leader Telegram

Pull the plug on cable bill
Updated: 5/27/2007

The issue: The state Legislature considers a bill supporters say would increase cable competition.

Our view: The bill is deeply flawed. It would strip local control, harm public access channels - and there's no guarantee cable rates would drop.

from: Post Crescent

Video franchising a front-yard issue
Grand Chute leader wary of AT&T's roadside cabinets

By Ed Lowe
Post-Crescent staff writer
Posted May 27, 2007

GRAND CHUTE — Town Administrator Mark Rohloff concedes the state battle over the so-called video competition act won’t be decided by concerns about neighborhood aesthetics.

The state video legislation in your state is moving fast, please take a moment to take action!

from: Chippewa.com

Editorials from Wisconsin newspapers

By The Associated Press

AT&T has been pushing the Video Competition Act aggressively in Wisconsin, and a cynic would note that if it was as great as they say it is, it wouldn't need the hard sell.

However, the telecommunications giant and the lawmakers behind the proposal are to be commended for at least listening to early criticism of the package and responding.