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LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS TAXES
A Response to Industry’s 2004 COST Study

Read complete NATOA PDF here

The telecommunications industry is conducting a multipronged effort to reduce the level of taxes it pays to local governments. Large sums of money are being poured into national and local advertising in a highly targeted media and lobbying campaign. In addition, the telecommunications industry is litigating against local governments to contest taxes and fees. The industry is also lobbying the federal and state governments to obtain favorable legislation to accomplish the same result.

September 7, 2006

Dear Colleague:

I would like to draw your attention to the attached Reuters article explaining how U.S. state and local governments could lose $8 billion a year in revenue under the national cable franchise reform bill currently being considered by the Senate.

According to a study released yesterday by a coalition of local government organizations, the Senate bill would preempt and greatly impede local government's taxing authority, leading to billions of dollars in annual loses and forcing such government entities to either cut critical services or raise taxes. The full study could be found at http://www.nlc.org/content/Files/LocalGovtPerspective090606.pdf.

from: CNET News

Net neutrality bill may die this year

By Anne Broache
http://news.com.com/Net+neutrality+bill+may+die+this+year/2100-1028_3-6115016.html

Story last modified Wed Sep 13 06:16:40 PDT 2006

WASHINGTON--A rift over Net neutrality is the No. 1 issue holding up a massive communications bill and could cause it to be derailed this year, the chairman of a key U.S. Senate panel said Tuesday.

from: Media Week

Telecom Bill May Be Disconnected

Todd Shields

SEPTEMBER 04, 2006 -

Lawmakers returning to Washington this week will be greeted by telephone company lobbyists engaged in a final, uphill push for help in emerging as cable’s competitors.

Verizon and AT&T want final passage of a bill that would let federal officials rather than localities set guidelines for offering video services. Telephone executives say kowtowing to thousands of localities is a barrier to rolling out TV services that offer hundreds of channels over high-speed lines. Cities and counties are fighting the measure, saying it saps their power to protect constituents and rights-of-way.

from: Broadcasting & Cable

Video Franchise Not on Senate Schedule
By John Eggerton
Broadcasting & Cable, 9/4/2006 7:02:00 AM

According to the Senate Cloak Room, which keeps tabs on floor schedules rather than cloaks, the bill is not scheduled for this week, and odds lengthen that it will be considered before the post-election lame duck session, if at all.

from: CED Magazine

Coalition forms in opposition to net neutrality

By Brian Santo, CED
5/9/2006 12:13:00 PM

A group of 24 conservative and libertarian organizations have formed the Internet Freedom Coalition (IFC) to oppose government regulations requiring network neutrality.

The new group contends the effort to assure net neutrality "is the first giant leap toward government regulation of the Internet," according to Jason Wright, president of the Institute for Liberty and an IFC co-director.

Note: It's always interesting when corporate financed 'non-profit' organizations attack legitimate citizen groups and claim they are anti-consumer. Jason Wright and The Institute for Liberty is one such organization (often referred to as an astroturf). We're still curious how red-lining and loss of first amendment speech can be considered pro-consumer. Perhaps Mr. Wright will explain it to us. In addition to the website for Institute for Liberty, he also has a personal site (complete with pictures with Cheney and Rumsfeld) and a policy site, Tech Policy Watch, intended for DC Legislators.

from: Save the Internet

National Outpouring of Support for Net Neutrality
New York City

Supporters of Internet freedom took to the pavement Wednesday and Thursday in 25 cities nationwide, delivering SavetheInternet petitions to their senators and urging them to oppose the phone and cable company attempt to gut Net Neutrality.

from: My DD

The Internet Slaps Back At Nasty Actors

by Matt Stoller
Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 07:55:45 PM EST

There's lots of very cool electoral, political, and organizational news on the net neutrality front, including more public humiliation of net neutrality opponents. The video above is just one local story from Save the Internet's nationwide set of rallies over the past few days. Here's where we are in the fight.

from: Telecom Web

Lobbyists Warm Up For Renewed Video-Franchise Battle

The telco-based Consumers for Cable Choice (C4CC) group has begun its lobbying campaign in preparation for the reconvening of the U.S. Congress, with a renewed call for federal legislation that will streamline video franchising and establish a national system.