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from: MultiChannel News

AT&T to Stop Reselling DirecTV Service In Q1
Telco Says Still ‘Evaluating’ Long-Term Relationship With Dish
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 12/11/2007 1:56:00 PM

AT&T will stop reselling DirecTV service in the first quarter, and the telco said it was “evaluating” its deal with EchoStar Communications with the expectation of making a decision about which satellite operator to continue partnering with by the end of next year.

from: MultiChannel News

AT&T: 30 Million U-verse Homes by 2010
Telco Projects More Than 1 Million TV Subscribers By End Of 2008
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 12/11/2007 10:07:00 AM

AT&T bolstered its commitment to U-verse TV, as CEO Randall Stephenson told Wall Street analysts Tuesday that the company expects to expand the service to be available to 30 million customer locations by 2010 – more than five times its current reach.

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: Times News

AT&T pushing to offer cable services statewide

Published 12/16/2007 By Hank Hayes

Gregg Morton is selling an idea the cable companies don’t want you or Tennessee lawmakers to buy.

Morton, the state president of AT&T, is the pitchman for his company having a statewide video services franchise that could shake up Tennessee’s telecommunications industry.

from: Cup of Joe

Wednesday, December 12, 2007
More on AT&T's Plan To Avoid Local Fees

All the noise and furor (and millions spent lobbying state legislators) from AT&T demanding Tennessee law be changed so that AT&T does not have to negotiate with cities for franchise contracts (depriving them of revenue from fees and handing over control of rights-of-way) is apparently not important in Mississippi. In that state, they seem to have no problems working community by community, just as all cable providers currently operate.

from: NY Times

December 16, 2007
Wider Spying Fuels Aid Plan for Telecom Industry
By ERIC LICHTBLAU, JAMES RISEN and SCOTT SHANE

This article is by Eric Lichtblau, James Risen and Scott Shane.

WASHINGTON — For months, the Bush administration has waged a high-profile campaign, including personal lobbying by President Bush and closed-door briefings by top officials, to persuade Congress to pass legislation protecting companies from lawsuits for aiding the National Security Agency’s warrantless eavesdropping program.

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.

from: Daily Cardinal

Opponents of cable bill lobby Doyle to again use partial veto

By: Charles Brace / The Daily Cardinal - December 13, 2007

The bill relating to cable television passed the Assembly Tuesday, but opponents still hope Gov. Jim Doyle will veto portions of the legislation before signing it.