Save Access

from: The Daily Times

Alcoa hangs up on AT&T: City officials oppose company's video franchise bill

By Mark Boxley
of The Daily Times Staff

Had it been a movie, the audience would have seen a couple guys standing toe to toe Tuesday. And after a few minutes of sizing each other up, the shorter of the two would have taken off his glove and used it to smack the other square in the face.

from: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Dingell: FCC not a 'legislative body'

By JOHN DUNBAR
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

WASHINGTON -- The chairman of a congressional panel that oversees the Federal Communications Commission accused the agency of overstepping its authority in approving an order meant to create more competition in cable television.

from: Palm Beach Post

Phone companies' boost targeted by lawmakers

By Kristi E. Swartz
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

TALLAHASSEE — Lawmakers are pushing Florida's telephone companies to forgo a scheduled increase in local phone rates as a way to sweeten a bill that would make it easier for them to get into the cable business.

from: Black Agenda Report

March 14, 2007

Black on Black Political Crime
Black Lawmakers Digitally Redline African-Americans

By BRUCE DIXON

Last year big cable and bigger telephone companies deployed platoons of lobbyists and up to a hundred million dollars in an attempt to enact national cable franchise legislation. They greased its way through the House of Representatives, proving along the way that willful ignorance and lots of corporate cash could make two thirds of the Congressional Black Caucus vote for the digital broadband redlining of their own communities. The power play of big phone and the cable guys stalled in the US Senate, thanks to a national grassroots campaign campaign spearheaded by Free Press, a national not-for-profit media reform group.

from: MultiChannel News

Martin to House: I’m Not Picking On Cable Operators
By Ted Hearn3/14/2007 5:28:00 PM

Washington -- Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin Martin on Wednesday denied to a House subcommittee that he has been “picking” on the cable industry since taking control of the agency two years ago.

from: Carlin's Comments

Statewide Video Franchises vs. Universal Service: Grasping the Total Picture

3/14/2007

Carlini’s Comments, MidwestBusiness.com’s oldest column, runs every Wednesday. Its mission is to offer the common man’s view on business and technology issues while questioning the leadership and visions of “pseudo” experts.

from: Broadcasting & Cable

Martin: Cable Ire Comes With Territory
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/14/2007

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said Wednesday he didn't have it in for cable, arguing that industries commonly feel picked on when they disagree with FCC policies.

from: Broadband Reports

FCC's Martin Gets His Wrist Slapped
Dems lament lack of previous oversight...

House Commerce Committee chairman John Dingell says the FCC has overstepped its authority with its recent telco friendly changes to the video franchise system. Opponents of the changes (that includes both cable execs and consumer advocates) say the changes are aimed primarily at legalizing telco cherry picking (deploying next-gen services only to affluent areas). The phone companies had no luck passing similar laws via Congress, so they turned to the FCC and state lawmakers. However, it's not legally clear if the FCC has the authority to make such changes without Congressional approval, so a legal battle is expected.

from: Variety

Democrats watching FCC
House puts org on notice at hearing

By WILLIAM TRIPLETT

WASHINGTON -- The first Democratically controlled House oversight hearing on the Federal Communications Commission pointedly put FCC chairman Kevin J. Martin and his fellow commissioners on notice that the new majority will be closely monitoring agency actions and expecting what it considers long overdue results on some matters.

from: USA Today

Lawmaker criticizes FCC for cable rules

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of a House panel that oversees the Federal Communications Commission accused the FCC of overstepping its authority with rules meant to encourage cable TV rivals.

Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., who heads the House Commerce Committee, said at a subcommittee meeting Wednesday that he supports cable competition and lower prices, but that the FCC "must work entirely within the existing laws."