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from: Florida Today

Cable oversight bill advances in House
BY BILL COTTERELL
FLORIDA TODAY
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Illinois Turn for Franchise-Reform Bill

By The Associated Press

(Multichannel News) _ A franchise-reform bill was introduced in Illinois that, in addition to allowing statewide authorization for newcomers, would allow overbuilders to drop local agreements in favor of statewide franchises.

As currently written, the bill would hold only incumbent cable operators to current franchises until their statutory end dates. As written, the exemption in HB1500 would appear to benefit the second operator to market, such as RCN in Chicago, and providers with even newer local agreements, such as Verizon Communications, which negotiated a local pact with North Chicago, Ill.

from: ulctlegislative.blogspot.com

Thursday, February 22, 2007
Telecom Stalemate and Eminent Domain Fight Loom

After a short meeting with many of the cable franchise stakeholders and the two powerful legislators (Senator Curt Bramble and Representative Steve Urquhart) who happen to be on opposite sides of the cable franchise debate, it appears that a stalemate on the issue will be unavoidable.

Dear Washington State media activists,

Reclaim the Media was in Olympia this week to speak against a very bad new telecommunications bill, SB6003, which would open the door for Qwest and other telecom companies to provide cable-type video services to customers statewide - but on the company's terms.

Their terms don't include fair support for PEG (public access, government and educational) TV programming, and they would seriously erode local customer accountability. Last but certainly not least, this corporate-sponsored bill would allow Qwest and other companies the right to "cherry-pick" the neighborhoods they want to provide the best services to, while skipping over less affluent or rural neighborhoods.

from: Kansas City Business Journal

Franchise bill's appeal fades for cable providers in Missouri

February 22, 2007
by Jason Shaad

A Missouri bill lauded for increasing competition in the state's cable market has lost a bit of its luster for cable companies.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved a bill to streamline the process for letting new service providers enter the television market in Missouri. The bill would allow both telephone and cable companies to secure statewide franchise agreements rather than negotiate individual franchise agreements with local governments, which is the current requirement for offering service.

from: Tampa Bay 10

Opposition surfaces to new standard for cable service

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AP) — Two state lawmakers say Floridians deserve more choices and lower prices for their cable television.

They unveiled legislation today requiring companies to get cable franchise agreements from the state instead of from local governments.

Note: AT&T continues to pursue local franchises in Missouri while also pushing for a statewide franchise.

from: STL Today

AT&T video plan meets with a delay
By Mark Schlinkmann
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/21/2007

ST. CHARLES — A proposal to allow AT&T, the state's largest telephone company, to offer video services in St. Charles ran into a delay Tuesday night at the City Council.

from:
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD

Legislature: State power grab
Tuesday, February 20, 2007

State lawmakers are looking today at a bill that supporters, chiefly Qwest Communications, proclaim would promote competition in cable TV services. Perhaps so, but the heart of the bill is a wholesale grab of power from cities, counties and communities.

Dear Colleagues,

We have just released the report of the Media Policy Research Pre-conference which took place on January 11th in Memphis as part of the National Conference on Media Reform. Entitled “A Research Agenda for Media Policy in 2007” the report summarizes a wide range of discussions on media research needs for advocacy communities involved in media change. The complete report can be downloaded here:

from: National Journal

House Democrats Eye Review Of Telecom Policies
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.

Fostering high-speed Internet deployment, ensuring an open and accessible Internet, and overhauling the federal universal service program that subsidizes telecom connections in rural and impoverished areas are among the key issues to be addressed. The competitiveness of the video, telephone and radio marketplaces also will be explored, along with protecting the privacy of phone records and promoting efficient use of spectrum.