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from: The Ledger

Cable Bill Clears Senate Panel
Plan would make it easier for telephone companies to offer television service.

By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Ledger Tallahassee Bureau

Published Wednesday, April 25, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - A bill that would make it easier for phone companies to offer cable television services cleared its last Senate committee Tuesday, setting up a final floor fight later this week that will decide the fate of the proposal.

from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Assembly nears approval of cable bill
State would issue franchises to providers

By STEVEN WALTERS
swalters@journalsentinel.com
Posted: April 24, 2007

Madison - The state Assembly on Tuesday tentatively approved a bill that would require state officials - instead of local governments - to issue cable TV and video broadcast franchises and investigate consumers' complaints.

from: Palm Beach Post

Phone cable plan touted as boon, feared as bias

By Kristi E. Swartz

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

TALLAHASSEE — Beverly Campbell said mortgage lenders and pizza delivery guys already bypass her Pine Hills neighborhood in west Orlando.

from: Uncommon Sense TV

Information on Ohio Senate Bill SB 117 and State Video Franchising

April 24th, 2007
by Andy in Media and Democracy

A briefing on SB 117 from Walter & Haverfield’s client newsletter

from: Reuters

AT&T Profit Doubles, but Wireless Growth Lags

From Reuters, April 24, 2007
By Sinead Carew

AT&T Inc.’s profit doubled in the first quarter, beating analyst estimates as profit from its wireless unit grew, helped by the purchase late last year of BellSouth Corp.

from: Brewed Fresh Daily

Cleveland City Councilman Matt Zone’s testimony to the Ohio Senate on SB117

Councilman Zone emailed a copy of his testimony:

Good Afternoon Mr. Chairman and members of the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee. My name is Matt Zone and I am a Councilmember of the City of Cleveland and Chair of the Public Utilities Committee. I appreciate the opportunity to speak today and to express the strong opposition of the City of Cleveland to Senate Bill 117.

from: The Free Press

Oppose SB 177

April 24, 2007

The Ohio Community Computing Network encourages you to oppose Ohio Senate Bill 117 (see below). This bill would eliminate local franchising for video services. There are many ramifications to the passage of this bill including: elimination of PEG access channels (we provide telecourses and share guest speakers on Educational Access), disincentives to build broadband in rural and low-income areas (effecting our ability to serve these areas), removal of local consumer protection (no service requirements, support of community networks, etc.), removal of local control of rights of way (ATT can put a big ugly switcher station on your tree lawn), loss of local revenue, perhaps a quarter million dollars annually in Columbus (pick the City service you want to see cut)

from: Digital Video Editing

Barton, Upton 'Disturbed' By Martin's Cable Agenda

By The Associated Press

(Broadcasting & Cable) A pair of Republican lawmakers have asked Republican FCC Chairman Kevin Martin to lay off the cable industry when it comes to "additional, unnecessary and burdensome regulations."

from: The Plain Dealer

Lawmakers beat partial retreat on statewide video franchising

Posted by Aaron Marshall April 24, 2007 18:34PM
Categories: Breaking News

After getting an earful from local mayors as well as the public access crowd, state lawmakers retreated Tuesday on several of the more controversial elements of a bill setting up a statewide franchising agreement for video service providers.

from: Madison.com

Cable TV bill appears headed for passage
But vote will be postponed for fiscal impact study

Judith Davidoff
The Capital Times

Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson, D-Beloit, says there would be enough votes in the Senate to pass a controversial cable bill today, but she is going to postpone a vote until questions about its fiscal impact are resolved.