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FL: State Primed to Take Over Control of Cable TV in Florida
from: News-Press
State Primed to Take Over Control of Cable TV in Florida
May 9, 2007
Cable television subscribers who have been able to rely on their local governments to regulate service, may soon be calling Tallahassee for help.
A bill that was passed by the Florida House and Senate late last week would take control away from local governments and turn it over to the state. Supporters believe it will help increase competition among television, telephone and Internet companies. That could lead to reduced customer rates.
WI: AT$T Claims Wide Support for Cable Bill
Note: TV4US is an astroturf organization paid for by AT&T.
from: Madison.com
AT&T Claims Wide Support for Cable Bill
From Capital Times, May 8, 2007
By David Callender
All 132 state lawmakers have received a thick binder full of the names of constituents backing a bill to deregulate the state’s cable TV franchise system, the latest move in a high-stakes effort by telecommunications giant AT&T to win swift legislative approval of the measure.
AT$T Ups U-verse Spending by $1.4 Billion
from: XChangemag.com
AT&T Ups U-verse Spending by $1.4 Billion
By Bob Wallace
Posted on: 05/07/2007
Facing challenges on all fronts with the deployment of its IPTV-driven U-verse triple-play bundle, AT&T Inc. confirmed Monday that it will spend an additional $1.4 billion on its initial plan to drive the offering and is reducing it subscriber target by 1 million.
OH: Senate committee passes bill that may trump cable deals
from: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Senate committee passes bill that may trump cable deals
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Aaron Marshall
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- Municipal officials and public-access advocates still weren't happy with it, but state lawmakers Tuesday passed a bill out of committee anyway that wipes out local cable franchise agreements in favor of a single statewide standard.
NY: Public knows too little about major reform legislation
from: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Hold telecom hearings
Public knows too little about major reform legislation.
(May 9, 2007) — A telecommunications reform bill now in the Legislature would fundamentally alter the way cable television and Internet services are provided throughout the state. It involves big-money players in Albany wrestling over a multibillion-dollar industry.
FL: Public Interest Groups Urge Governor Crist to Veto 'Consumer Choice Act'
from: Common Dreams
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 8, 2007
12:49 PM
CONTACT: Free Press
Brad Ashwell, Florida PIRG, (850) 224-3321
Louise Thompson, Tampa Bay Community Network,
(813) 362-7855
Jen Howard, Free Press, (202) 265-1490, x22
Public Interest Groups Urge Governor Crist to Veto 'Consumer Choice Act'
IL: TV Standards
from: Chicago Tribune
TV Standards
May 8, 2007
By Cal Audrain
The Tribune’s May 1 editorial “Bring on cable competition” correctly points out that protection of public access channels is achievable in statewide legislation. Unfortunately that has not been true in the majority of the states where AT&T-backed legislation has passed to date.
Laws for sale! Astroturfing and citizen apathy on the rise
from: Ars Technica
Laws for sale! Astroturfing and citizen apathy on the rise
By Nate Anderson
| Published: May 08, 2007 - 12:09PM CT
WI: Assembly to pass cable bill, try to up competition
from: The Badger Herald
Assembly to pass cable bill, try to up competition
by Keegan Kyle
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
The state Assembly is expected to pass its version of a bill tomorrow that aims to increase cable competition and reduce service rates across Wisconsin.
The bill would allow the Department of Financial Institutions to grant statewide revenue-sharing contracts with cable and other video service providers. Proponents say the streamlined service — currently managed by local municipalities — would lead to more competition.
IL: Elected officials learn-in Vegas
from: Chicago Tribune
Elected officials learn- in Vegas
Cable TV industry sponsors junket
By Jeffrey Meitrodt and Monique Garcia
Tribune staff reporters
Published May 8, 2007
SPRINGFIELD -- With lawmakers wrestling over a highly contentious bill that would dramatically overhaul the cable television business in Illinois, the industry took at least 11 House and Senate members to Las Vegas last weekend for schmoozing and schooling.
