saveaccess's blog

MA: Verizon is Scum

Posted on April 24, 2007 - 7:54pm.

from: The Massachusetts Curmudgeon

Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Verizon is Scum

Verizon has been hard at work in Massachusetts finding new ways to screw over this state's residents. First off I notice that my phone bill has gone up by $2 for the last month. I check and find out that they now have no long distance plans that don't have a minimum fee. My wife and I never use Verizon long distance, so we get wacked a 2$ monthly fee because we don't use it. I want to find a business where I can send people a $2 bill for not using me. By the way if you are looking for this weasal fee, it's listed as a "shortfall charge" in the Verizon long distance portion of your bill. Currently I have phone and dsl service through them, but underhanded moves like this have me considering pulling out my landline all together and getting my internet through the cable company.

TX: Houston Public Access TV To Get The Axe Next Year

Posted on April 24, 2007 - 7:51pm.

April 24, 2006

Houston Public Access TV To Get The Axe Next Year
by Stefan Wray

Houston, TX -- Fred Fichman, Executive Director of Houston Media Source -- the public access TV station in Houston -- said today that he met with the Mayor's Deputy Chief of Staff, and other City officials in Houston, who verified that as of April 2008 there will be a major reduction in funding for both the public and government access TV channels.

( categories: State Franchises | TEXAS )

WI: Goodbye West Allis Community Media Center

Posted on April 24, 2007 - 10:45am.

from Mary Cardona, Executive Director, Wisconsin Association of Public Access Centers
www.wapconline.com

Goodbye West Allis Community Media Center

Monday, April 23, 2007

As a result of a vote in the Assembly this Tuesday and a vote in the Senate swiftly to follow, West Allis Community Media Center (WACMC) will likely be closing its doors. One of the largest jewels of public access television in the whole nation will be silenced after 25 years when the Wisconsin legislature votes for the Video Competition Act (SB 107), as currently amended.

( categories: State Franchises | WISCONSIN )

MI: AT$T ‘comes calling’ in community

Posted on April 24, 2007 - 7:34am.

from: Journal Group

AT&T ‘comes calling’ in community

Scott Spielman
Editor
April 19, 2007

Officials in the City of Wayne may not have long to wait to find out how the new state-wide cable legislation works.

Telecommunications giant AT&T wants to provide new high-speed video service in area communities through 2017.

( categories: AT&T | MICHIGAN | State Franchises )

WI: Decision coming for franchise bill

Posted on April 24, 2007 - 6:46am.

from: Badger Herald

Decision coming for franchise bill

by Keegan Kyle
Tuesday, April 24, 2007

City officials across Wisconsin will watch the state Legislature closely this morning as it may pass a bill that would reshape the distribution of revenue-sharing agreements with cable, satellite and other broadcasters.

( categories: State Franchises | WISCONSIN )

FL: Phone-cable bill is on the line

Posted on April 24, 2007 - 6:43am.

from: Miami Herald

Phone-cable bill is on the line
What began as a consumer-friendly proposal tacked to the cable-video franchising bill to keep basic local phone rates from rising could ultimately end up sinking the legislation.

BY MONICA HATCHER
mhatcher@MiamiHerald.com

TALLAHASSEE
After the Consumer Choice Act failed to pass the Legislature last year, local phone companies hoping to break into the cable-television business figured they'd improve the cable-franchise bill's chances this year by throwing in a bonus for consumers.

( categories: FLORIDA | State Franchises )

FL: Cable fight now 3-way free-for-all

Posted on April 24, 2007 - 6:41am.

from: Ocala.com

Cable fight now 3-way free-for-all
Telephone, cable firms go on lobbying blitz

BY LLOYD DUNKELBERGER
STAR-BANNER TALLAHASSEE BUREAU
TALLAHASSEE - Cable companies are using the television airwaves to lobby against a bill that would make it easy for phone companies to compete in the cable market.

( categories: FLORIDA | State Franchises )

OH: Lev Gonick: SB 117 vs. I-Nets

Posted on April 24, 2007 - 6:40am.

from: Callahan's Diary

Lev Gonick: SB 117 vs. I-Nets

A very important point yesterday at Bytes From Lev:

Missing from almost all the analysis is the single most important part of existing franchise agreements and those are the provisions that relate to so-called I-Nets (Institutional Networks). In the first round of franchise agreements with Cable providers, the City template franchise agreement for providing rights to lay out fiber included a public set-a-side of 6 or more fiber pairs to be used to connect public institutions like schools, government buildings, public health care services, and other public institutions. The provision was slightly ahead of its time but in the past 10 years or so, enlightened Cities (and Counties) are significantly leveraging their negotiated rights to use I-Net infrastructure.

( categories: OHIO | State Franchises )

FL: New Legislation, Same Old Phone Company

Posted on April 23, 2007 - 7:14pm.

from: Daytona Beach News Journal

New Legislation, Same Old Phone Company

April 23, 2007
By Brad Ashwell

Among the things that never seem to change in Florida: The Gators and Seminoles will always feud and our local Bell phone company will always be lobbying Tallahassee for a new rate hike, deregulation bill or clever tax loophole.

( categories: FLORIDA | State Franchises )

FL: Cable debate down to wire

Posted on April 23, 2007 - 6:22am.

from: Herald Tribune

Cable debate down to wire
By LLOYD DUNKELBERGER

H-T CAPITAL BUREAU

TALLAHASSEE -- Cable companies are using the television airwaves to lobby against a bill that would make it easy for phone companies to compete in the cable market.

Phone companies are using their own high-priced lobbying campaign to promote the legislation.

( categories: FLORIDA | State Franchises )
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