Save Access

from: My DD

Governor Granholm Selling Out the Internet?

by Matt Stoller, Mon Dec 11, 2006 at 02:21:51 PM EST

It's still difficult to pass net neutrality protections, and it looks like it might be getting harder because state level officials aren't able to withstand pressure from corporate lobbies. The telecoms have a powerful and effective strategy - use their allies in the CBC and New Dems to stop net neutrality protections on the Federal level, while passing video franchising rights in the states so they don't need Federal permission to expand their business. We stopped them in Pennsylvania, but they have the upper hand in a fight in Michigan where a bill is being debated.

from: Multichannel News

California Taps Telecom Panel

By Linda Haugsted 12/11/2006

Executives from Verizon Communications, AT&T and Cox Communications are among 21 industry leaders who will craft California’s future telecommunications policy as part of a task force named by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

from: The Nation

FCC Chair Schemes to Undermine Net Neutrality

The Federal Communications Commission is supposed to be made up of five independent members who serve in the public interest.

But FCC chair Kevin Martin, a Bush White House retainer who reportedly entertains notions of running for the governorship of his native North Carolina with a campaign war chest full of telecommunications-industry contributions, is now attacking the basic structures of the FCC in order to deliver for the corporations he hopes will someday be his political benefactors.

from: Seattle Times

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Editorial
The people's FCC

Kevin Martin, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, is trying to remove the ethical constraints on one of his commissioners in order to get the man's vote on an issue of national concern. The chairman's action is wrong, and the FCC staff, which serves the public and not only the chairman, should have the backbone to block it.

Celebrate - then call the FCC!

from: SavetheInternet.com

Huge Victory for Real People as Telco Bill Dies

The gavel has fallen on the 109th Congress marking the demise of entrenched corporate efforts to legislate away our Internet freedoms — and a stunning victory for real people who want to retain control of the Internet.

from: Digital Destiny

Time for a Bold Public Interest Media/Telecom Agenda

We hope readers will look at Matt Stoller’s blog and his important piece entitled On Building a Progressive Governing Coalition Around Net Neutrality.” It should be a part of a much larger debate about what should be done—at this critical juncture with our digital media system—to ensure that it truly serves democracy. We believe that there now must be a major push—in Congress and the marketplace–to advance a comprehensive agenda that will:

NOTE: FCC Chairman Martin "often citing the Phoenix Center's own work on rising cable-franchise rates". The Phoenix Center's data is based in part on a Bank of America study later discredited in Congressional hearing by bank representatives (see: http://saveaccess.org/node/312). Also lost in the furor over cable prices is that Verizon just raised pricies for its FIOS service by 7.6% (see: http://saveaccess.org/node/545).

from: ICDP Dispatch

Monday, December 04, 2006

Public Access TV Threatened by HB 6456

The ICDP has been an avid user of and supporter of the services provided by our local public access TV folks, the Mid-Michigan Area Cable Consortium (MAC3-TV) that operates our public, educational and governmental channels in Gratiot, Clare and Isabella Counties. But a new telecommunications law now being discussed by the lame-duck legislature could eliminate all funding for public access television as early as Tuesday. We need you to call our legislators ASAP. Here’s the rest of the story.

Dear Saveaccess supporter,

We haven't called on you for some time for action - but now is the time!

The FCC is preparing to issue their ruling on Video Franchising (MB 05-311). The Alliance for Community Media is now calling for supporters to call the FCC, submit new comments and also write/fax your Congressional representatives. The deadline is Wednesday December 13th!

For information on how to take action, go to either:

from: Associated Press

Committee Sends Cable Bill to State Senate, but More Work Remains

From Associated Press, December 6, 2006
By David Eggert

Legislation that supporters say would give Michigan customers more choice in the cable TV market is one step closer to approval, though lawmakers say some issues may never be fully resolved.