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Long Story Short: The 2006 Rewrite of U.S. Communications Policy

By Lauren-Glenn Davitian,
Center for Media & Democracy (VT)
davitian@cctv.org

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a National Video Franchising bill on June 8th 2006. This bill, known as COPE—the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006 (H5252)—permits the telephone companies to get quickly into the cable TV business by sidestepping local government approval (franchises) in favor of national service approval from the FCC. The Senate will by Senator Ted Stevens – R/ Alaska, raises many of the same public interest concerns in COPE. By moving into the video business the phone companies will control both access to networks and content, much like the cable companies do today. If allowed to do so under the conditions proposed in these bills, there are serious questions about the future of open networks and prospects for real competition on the Internet (a/k/a net neutrality). Other areas of concern include: local management of the public rights of way, the redlining low income and rural communities and long term protections for public, educational and government access media.

from: Mercury News
Also Read Davey D's Open Letter to Hip Hop.

Hip-hop’s Next Big Stop: Capitol Hill

From Mercury News, June 15, 2006
By Davey D

Friday marks what would have been the 35th birthday of slain rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur, and this year is the 10th anniversary of his death.

From: Black Commentator

Black Caucus Caves to Corporate Power
Two-Thirds Vote Against Black Interests

By Bruce Dixon

The independence of black American leadership is under assault by a tsunami of cash. Unprecedented levels of corporate underwriting are subverting black civic organizations. Tens of millions in faith-based federal grants have been deployed to suborn black clergy. Rivers of charitable and campaign contributions have been invested in subduing or silencing the voices of African America elected officials. Predictably, the onslaught is taking its toll.

A clear statement from Rep. Serrano (NY) on why he voted against COPE. We have a campaign for you to ask your Reps why they voted FOR COPE. Go here to send a letter today!

House Passes Bill to Gut Local Control of Cable Franchises

Last night, the House passed H.R. 5252, a bill to replace local control of cable franchises with a set of minimal requirements under a national franchise. Currently, each local franchising authority, typically a municipal government, is permitted to negotiate agreements with video service providers that are looking to introduce service into an area. The agreements include compensation to the locality for uses of its rights of way, funding for PEG (public, educational and governmental) programming, customer service dispute procedures and other terms.

We revisit this story because it's worth remembering as the Senate vote looms. The Telcos have already received 200 Billion in subsidies and tax abatements and have failed to deliver the promised services. Now they want further deregulation that will effect how we receive information via the internet and television.

Additional stories:
“The $200 Billion Broadband Scandal.” — AKA Where’s the 45MB/s I Already Paid for!

from: Tech Soup

What Will Tiered Internet Access Mean for NPOs?
Why nonprofits must join the fight to keep the net neutral

By: Henry Kumagai

June 12, 2006

Imagine if your nonprofit had to pay a fee to your Internet service provider in order for your Web site to turn up on search-engine results. Or what if your constituents could only access your site on a slower, more unreliable connection — unless you made a higher monthly payment to your ISP?

from: Seattle Stranger

Net Loss
The Fight for "Net Neutrality" May Be Undone by Local Consultant

BY JOSH FEIT

The fate of the internet may very well be decided in Seattle. And it's not because of this city's renowned pool of high-tech talent. It's because two of the central players in a heated federal debate about the rules of engagement on the net—a debate that erupted on the floor of the U.S. House last week—hail from here.

from: Light Reading

Telecom Trade Reps Are Very Well Paid Reps
JUNE 14, 2006

Maybe long-distance calling costs next-to-nothing, but having a voice in Washington sure ain't cheap for the big telcos and cable MSOs.

In fact, Light Reading has learned that Walter McCormick, CEO of the United States Telecom Association (USTelecom) commands a bigger payday than the heads of other communications-related associations, including the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) .

from: MultiChannel news

Lodi Residents May Lose Yard Space to AT&T Cabinets

Residents in Lodi, Calif., will have interesting lawn ornaments soon and some folks aren’t too happy about it. AT&T is set to install large gray boxes in some front yards as the telecommunications provider prepares to offer its voice, video and data offerings in the area.

from: Independent Weekly

JUNE 14, 2006
A tangle of telco laws

BY FIONA MORGAN

Just as consumers are becoming aware of things like net neutrality and media consolidation, Congress and the North Carolina legislature are acting like nobody's paying any attention.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted down a bill that would have enshrined network neutrality in national Internet policy, but gave the go-ahead to the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act. The COPE Act is a massive policy overhaul that would allow powerful telecommunications companies to roll out the next generation of technology--Internet TV, especially--on the terms they've set for themselves, free from the public interest requirements of yesteryear. The Senate is now considering its own version; based on hearings held June 13 in Washington, things don't look good.