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from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

State Agencies Would Handle TV Complaints Under Video Bill

April 24, 2007
By Steven Walters

If you’ve been griping to city or village officials about cable TV service problems, get ready to take your complaints instead to someone in state government in Madison.

from: Channel 3000

Reality Check: Cable Prices to Drop in Wisconsin?

April 24, 2007

On Tuesday, state lawmakers will vote on a bill that, if passed, would deregulate the cable industry. But could it mean a drop in prices?

The bill would allow other companies — likely the telephone companies — to provide video service with a state franchise. Lawmakers in favor of the bill said it would increase competition and lower rates for consumers.

from: Palm Beach Post

Phone cable plan touted as boon, feared as bias

By Kristi E. Swartz

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

TALLAHASSEE — Beverly Campbell said mortgage lenders and pizza delivery guys already bypass her Pine Hills neighborhood in west Orlando.

from: Columbus Dispatch

Cities rip Senate's cable TV proposal
More competition not worth it, critics say

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 3:36 AM
By Alan Johnson
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Cable video competition might flourish, but cities would suffer under a proposed change in state franchising law, dozens of municipal and township officials complained to an Ohio Senate committee yesterday.

from: Freepress.net

Mass. Gov. Accuses Verizon of Making Threats in Tax Dispute

From Dow Jones, April 23, 2007
By Corey Boles

“Verizon says that without the exemption telecommunications companies will not build broadband in western Massachusetts. But we’ve had this exemption in place for more than 90 years and western Massachusetts still doesn’t have broadband in place.”

from: Germantown News

Telecommunication bill passes hurdle
By Don Moore

On Tuesday, April 17, the Tennessee House subcommittee on utilities and banking passed an amended version of the cable/video franchising bill by a vote of 8 to 6. Representative Steve McManus (Rep.-Cordova), a member of the committee, voted against the bill. Rep. Brian Kelsey (Rep.-East Memphis/Germantown), also a committee member, voted in favor.

from: MCDAC Blog

Sen. Bill 117 & the Ohio Constitution's Impairment of Contracts Clause

One of the bills being talked about in the General Assembly is Sen. Bill 117 which would apparently wipe out local franchise agreements between cable tv providers and local governments. Apparently members of the General Assembly are taking some heat from mayors and other local government officials. You can read about their pressuring the Ohio Senate by clicking on the link in this entry's title.

from: Madison.com

Editorial: Foul smell of campaign cash

State Sen. Jeff Plale, D-South Milwaukee, will not have to face the voters again until 2010.

Just re-elected with ease for another four-year term representing a safe Democratic district in one of the state's most Democratic counties, Plale has no need to be raising money for another campaign.

from: Badger Hearald

Lawmakers delay cable bill decision

by Keegan Kyle
Wednesday, April 25, 2007

State Democrats blocked Republican efforts in the Assembly and Senate Tuesday to pass legislation that aims to increase cable competition in Wisconsin.

In the Democrat-controlled Senate, legislators voted along party lines to send the bill to the Joint Finance Committee, which handles bills with significant financial implications.

from: St. Petersburg Times

Cable bill loses a critical clause

By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published April 25, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - In the telephone industry's multimillion-dollar battle for access to Florida's TV market, cable companies and consumer groups suffered a serious blow Tuesday.