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from: The Capital Times

State Reps Rolling In At&t Cash

Dollars Go To Backers Of Controversial Bill

The Capital Times :: METRO :: C1
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Judith Davidoff The Capital Times

AT&T officials significantly increased their donations to the author of a controversial video licensing bill the year the proposal was being developed, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

Note: We've reported on this group in the past - but this is worth repeating.

from: Source Watch

TV4US describes itself as a coalition "advocating on behalf of American customers who deserve new choices, better service and lower costs in their television service." [1] The public interest group Common Cause called TV4US "the very definition of Astroturf: an industry-backed campaign that gives the appearance of widespread grassroots support." [2]

Note: The FCC is on track for 'Corporate Giveway' part two - giving the cable companies the same public interest concessions that were granted to the phone companies.

from: Bloomberg News

FCC Won't Delay Vote on Cable TV Rules, McDowell Says

By Molly Peterson

April 4 (Bloomberg) -- Court challenges to rules that made it easier for AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. to offer television won't delay a vote on applying similar rules to cable companies, a U.S. Federal Communications Commission member said.

from: Riedel Communications

Blasphemy Comes A-Callin

It’s never a good sign when you find yourself swearing at your computer screen before 9 a.m. It’s a jumble, it’s just a jumble.

It started with a story regarding a resolution passed by the U.N. Human Rights Council sponsored by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) that limits freedom of expression about religion. The resolution was presented as a measure to “protect the religious sensibilities of Muslims.” Look out Salman Rushdie, Madonna, Pope Benedict and you Danish cartoonists…”it” is on, the U.N. Human Rights Council says so. South Africa voted for it as well Mexico, China, Russia and of course Saudi Arabia.

from: Spectrum Talk

Congress Nudges an FCC on Hold
Agency Tackles Backlog of Pending Matters After Democrats Complain

By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Washington Post Wednesday, April 4, 2007; D01

Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.) scolded the five members of the Federal Communications Commission when he finally got them before a powerful subcommittee last month.

from: Midwest Business

HB 1500 is the Katrina of Telecommunications in Illinois
4/4/2007

Carlini’s Comments, MidwestBusiness.com’s oldest column, runs every Wednesday. Its mission is to offer the common man’s view on business and technology issues while questioning the leadership and visions of “pseudo” experts.

from: Capital Times

Robin Stearns: Loss of public access TV not worth deregulation

By Robin Stearns. April 5, 2007

I attended the March 27 hearing on "deregulating" cable TV in Wisconsin. I had been asked to speak in defense of public access television. This so-called video competition bill will require public, educational and government stations to air 12 hours of programming per day, 80 percent of which must be locally produced and not rerun. This alone will destroy community access TV in Wisconsin.

from: Nieman Watchdog

Verizon, AT&T and the manipulation of public opinion

COMMENTARY | April 04, 2007

Needed: Blacks, Hispanics, disabled, deaf, low-income and the elderly to support the telecoms’ positions on anti-consumer FCC rulings and legislation.

By Bruce Kushnick

from: Knox Views

Cable Committee summary

Submitted by Mark Harmon on Wed, 2007/04/04

Knox County Cable Committee met April 4, 2007, 8:30-9:30 am in Room 640 of the City County Bldg. Chair Mike Hammond was present. I was there, I'm vice chair. Also present: Commissioners R. Larry Smith, Josh Jordan, and Lee Tramel. The group discussed and unanimously passed my resolution below:

from: 411 Productions

Is Public Access Under Fire by AT&T U-Verse?

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Public Access Producers in San Antonio Texas have been in a long battle over keeping Public Access Television alive in Texas. We monitor what goes on at the City and State level. Since San Antonio was the 1st city to be impacted by changes to telecommunications laws in Texas we are the crash-test dummies for what will happen to the rest of Texas and the U.S. when it comes to Public Access Channels.