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from: Macomb Daily

New cable law promises competition, but local officials leery

By Frank DeFrank
Macomb Daily Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: Sunday, April 8, 2007

A new state law promises to bring Michigan residents competition in the cable television industry, a development that proponents say will cut costs and increase TV-viewing options.

from: TV Technology

Local Governments Challenge FCC Video Franchising Rules

April 6, 2007

Several lobbies representing local governments have petitioned the courts to get the FCC's recently issued video franchise rules reversed. Five appeals, filed in separate federal courts April 3, claimed the FCC exceeded its authority with the franchise order, adopted in December by a vote of 3-2.

from: MultiChannel News

Word to Locals: Set Service Standards
Competition Won’t Cure All, Advisers Tell Town Officials

By Linda Haugsted 4/9/2007

Video competition is not going to solve all customer-service problems, so cities and counties still need to craft and enforce local guidelines, attorneys advising the regulators said.

from: OCAT

State Video Franchising Impact on Oshkosh Community Access Television (OCAT)

Most concerning to OCAT is that the current language in these bills specifically prohibit municipalities from requiring video service providers to provide funds, services, programming, facilities or equipment in support of PEG channels. Without specific language preserving our current PEG funding, this bill will severely impact, if not eliminate the OCAT operation. Over a nine-year period (the balance of our current franchise agreement with Time Warner Cable) it is estimated these bills will have a total financial impact on Oshkosh of anywhere between $2.8M-$3.4M from lost revenue and increased costs. Oshkosh City Attorney Warren Kraft summarizes the major problems with these bills from a municipal viewpoint in his March 23, 2007 Memo. A Wisconsin Association of PEG Channels (WAPC) study estimates that in one year alone these bills will have a negative impact of at least $5M per year collectively on Wisconsin PEG faculties and a $50M impact over a 10 year period. The major talking points of AB 207/SB 107 can be found in WAPC Executive Director Mary Cardona's April 3 Memo.

from: global.freifunk.net

Opposition to HB1500 Continues to Grow -- Peter Collins Speaks Out.

As I reported at the beginning of March, one of the worst state franchise bills I've ever read was introduced by James Brosnahan to the Illinois legislature. I can only imagine that the goal was to fast-track this bill and sneak it through before the public got organized enough to demand that it be withdrawn. It is, to say the least, a horrendous bill, eliminating local control, gutting consumer protections and legally protecting telecom providers who wish to redline the poor and rural. This bill is, in almost every regard, directly contrary to the best interests of the general public. Luckily, thought leaders and consumer advocates from across the state have been waging a educational campaign to let people people know about this travesty. Peter Collins has been leading the charge and his recent letter to Brosnahan is included below.

from: Lafayette Pro Fiber

How Video Franchising Works

Friday, April 06, 2007

They've got some experience under their belt with state video franchising in Virgina and, according to an article in the Newport News paper, some of the opponents' worst fears are being realized. Verizon, who is building out a Fiber to the Privileged (FTTP) network (If this is unfamiliar territory drop to the bottom and read up on the background to this story.)

from: Save Texas Access

- For Immediate Release -

April 5, 2007

Public Access Community Television
1143 Northwestern Avenue
Austin, TX 78702
www.pactaustin.org
512-478-8600

Media Contact:
Stefan Wray, Communications Director, Ext. 13
stefanw@pactaustin.org

San Antonio Council Postpones Action On Public Access TV

from: Tri-Cites News

City Raises Concerns Over Controversial Cable Bill

From Tri-Cities News, April 6, 2007
By Nate Morabito

Cable television customers could pay the price if a bill making it’s way through the Tennessee Legislature becomes law according to some Johnson City Commissioners.

from: My DD

Quarantining Verizon's Union Workers

by Nancy Scola, Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 09:13:00 PM EST

For the moment, let's forget the important recent debate over whether easing the joining of labor unions is a net good or a net bad for both American workers and American business. Let's instead look at how a Fortune 50 like Verizon might attempt to rid itself of an unwelcomed business reality: many of its workers currently belong to a union, either the Communication Workers of America or the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Verizon is a sophisticated, modern telecom behemoth. It isn't likely to resort to blunt-instrument union-avoidance techniques like summarily firing workers who are pro-collective representation.

Note: Excellent analysis of what can go wrong in state franchising - the devil is in the details.

from: Trenton Times

Cable watchdog

Saturday, April 07, 2007
BY PHYLLIS SALOWE-KAYE

or many in New Jersey, the battle over state vs. municipal franchises to foster competition in the cable market ended with the governor's signature on the sweeping new law. The decision was made to allow Verizon to provide cable television service without a local franchise, in the belief that new competition will lower cable rates for consumers.