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From: Columbia Tribune

AT&T Plays Hardball with ‘Astroturf’

February 27, 2007
By J. Scott Christianson

Tomorrow the House Special Committee on Utilities will consider SB 284, the Missouri Video Franchise Bill. I wrote Feb. 6 that SB 284 is a bad bill. It would reduce public oversight of the cable companies that use public easements, it would essentially eliminate local PEG (public, education and government) channels, it would allow telecom companies to cherry-pick high-profit customers, and it would reduce the ability of government to audit those companies for compliance with the law.

from: Save Access Texas

The Committee That Never Met
by savetexasaccess on Thu, 2007-03-01

The 79th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 5 in the Second Special Session. This new statute called for the formation of a Telecommunications Competitiveness Legislative Oversight Committee that was supposed to “conduct a joint interim study” with the Public Utilities Commission to, among other things, examine the “continuation of public, educational, and government (PEG) access channels.” But this committee never met.

from: PR Newswire

Group Calls on Speaker Nunez to Fix Video Franchise Law After PUC Rejects Oversight Role, Consumer Protections

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a
perfunctory vote Thursday, the state Public Utilities Commission rejected the protests of California cities and consumer groups, deciding against any direct oversight of the state's new statewide video-service franchises for phone and cable companies. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights called on Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to amend the law to provide the nondiscrimination and other protections that he said would be guaranteed.

from: Government Technology

Local Governments Offer the "Truth" on Telecom Reform

Feb 28, 2007 News Release

Facing fierce lobbying efforts, national local government associations launched a new Web site to present the "real truth" on the potential effects of telecommunications reform on communities and consumers.

from: Cleveland Daily Banner

Cleveland City Council passes resolution in opposition to state franchising

The Council approved a resolution expressing its opposition to proposed legislation in the 105th General Assembly by AT&T titled the “Competitive Cable and Video Service Act.”

from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

AT&T challenges cable TV, satellite
Internet-based U-verse won't pay communities franchise fees

By DORIS HAJEWSKI
dhajewski@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Feb. 28, 2007

AT&T is launching its Internet-based television service to compete with cable and satellite offerings in the five-county metropolitan Milwaukee area, and it is choosing not to pay municipalities for franchising rights or giving them any oversight, as cable companies do.

from: The Business Journal

AT&T launches Internet television in Milwaukee

The Business Journal of Milwaukee - 8:35 AM CST Wednesday, February 28, 2007
by Rachel McCormick-Jennings

AT&T Wisconsin has begun installing and providing its new Internet television product, U-Verse, in the Milwaukee market, despite a federal lawsuit filed by the city challenging the service's implementation here.

from: Variety

Media faces political scrutiny
Democrats plan a slew of hearings
By WILLIAM TRIPLETT

Get ready for a slew of congressional fact-finding hearings on media issues, regardless of whether relevant legislation has even been proposed, members and staff of the Democratically controlled Congress told the National Assn. of Broadcasters.

From: National Journal

House Dems Eye Telecom Review

February 27, 2007
By David Hatch

House Democrats are planning a thorough re-examination of telecommunications and media policies that will feature multiple oversight hearings and fresh legislation, industry and congressional sources said.

Be sure to send you letters to House members tellingthem to Stop the FCC!

from: Broadcasting and Cable

House Reschedules FCC Oversight Hearing
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/26/2007

The House Energy & Commerce Committee's Telecommunications Subcommittee has rescheduled its canceled Feb. 15 FCC oversight hearing for March 14, according to an FCC source.