Save Access

If Verizon is giving up on Federal legislation, they're not giving up on state franchise. Today a Verizon backed bill was expected to be introduced in Massachusetts.

from: MultiChannel news

Tauke: Big Telecom Bill Unlikely in 2007-08
By Ted Hearn 1/9/2007 5:37:00 PM

from: Alternet

Digital Media: The Next Frontier for Media Reform

By Jeffrey Chester,
AlterNet. Posted January 10, 2007.

The future of the progressive movement depends on our ability to harness the power of digital media.

On Friday, several thousand U.S. media activists will converge in Memphis to attend the Free Press group's "National Conference for Media Reform." Much of the conference is focused on current and upcoming public policy battles designed to help make this country's media system more democratic. Right now there is greater interest in media policy than we have seen since the 1960s.

from: Broadcasting and Cable

Breaking News
Dorgan, Snowe Introduce Net Neutrality Bill

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/9/2007

Senate Commerce Committee members Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Me.) wasted no time putting the network neutrality issue back on the legislative calendar.

from: Broadcasting and Cable

Breaking News
Martin Promises Localism Study Before Ownership Move

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/8/2007

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has told a group of Senate Commerce Committee members that the FCC will complete its localism proceeding and release a report before completing its court- and congressionally mandated review of media ownership rules.

from: TPM Cafe

The Price of Net Neutrality

By Art Brodsky

Kevin Martin, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, was sold out in the merger of AT&T and BellSouth. He wasn't undercut by the other commissioners who disagreed with him, even though Martin took out his anger at them. He was sold out by the company for which he had extended his prestige -- AT&T. On top of that, Martin has made life for himself just that much more difficult dealing with Democrats in Congress, even as he accepted the foundation for a more open Internet.

from: Broadcasting and Cable

Breaking News
Democrats Take a Close Look at FCC

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/8/2007

The new Democratic Senate Commerce Committee majority won't waste any time kicking the tires on the Republican led FCC.

The committee has scheduled an FCC oversight hearing among its first three of the new Congress--the others are aviation and rail security.

from: MultiChannel News

Waiting For Martin’s Next (Big) Steps

By Ted Hearn 1/8/2007

In December, a politically divided Federal Communications Commission adopted rules that give franchising authorities 90 days to act on cable entry petitions filed by phone companies and others with pre-existing access to rights of way.

from: Technology Daily

Limited Focus On Telecom Overhaul In Chamber Of Commerce Agenda

By David Hatch

(Thursday, January 4) Overhauling the nation's telecommunications laws received little attention at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce briefing, suggesting that the issue may be less critical for the group now that regulatory-minded Democrats control Congress.

from: Public Knowledge

The Price of Net Neutrality

Submitted by Art Brodsky on January 5, 2007 - 3:46pm.

As Democratic legislators start the process of running the legislative branches of government, it’s worth a moment to take a last look at the unusual statement on the AT&T/BellSouth merger issued by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and his colleague, Deborah Taylor Tate. The merger conditions, approved Dec. 29, enshrined the concept that companies that offer service like AT&T can’t discriminate in how they provide content. That’s the shorthand for Net Neutrality. AT&T agreed not to sell as service that “privileges, degrades or prioritizes” any data transmitted over its network. Martin and Tate didn’t like that condition, among others, and said so in a statement issued when the deal was approved.

It's important to note that cables rates have risen as a result of Congressional deregulation in the 1996 Telecom Act. While the rate of increase is at issue - the cause should be understood as deregulation. The Telco astroturfs have made cable rate increases a rallying cry while pushing for even greater deregulation over voice/data/television services.

from: Broadcasting and Cable