Save Access

from: Disappeared News

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

The battle to save public access TV in Hawaii moves to the legislature

... and it could use your help

Not only can you help, but your help is needed to save Hawaii's public access television channels.

As you know, there's a move afoot to replace the current public access television providers. The administration plans to do this by opening the contracts to competitive bidding, while disadvantaging the current providers from ever winning a contract.

from: Broadcast Newsroom

Colo. Statewide-Franchise Bill on Hold

By Linda Haugsted 2/8/2007 7:02:00 PM

A cable franchise reform bill backed by Qwest Communications International in Colorado was postponed indefinitely by an 8-4 vote Thursday of the state House transportation and energy committee.

This is a significant finding since the FCC is also using broadband penetration as a justification for creating national video franchising. Any national media policy must be developed upon legitimate and accurate information.

from: Broadband Reports

Surprise: More Criticism of FCC Broadband Data

from: National Journal

Wired In Washington

So Long To Massive Telecom Bill

By David Hatch

(Editor’s note: David Hatch’s ‘Wired In Washington’ column appears on alternate Wednesdays in CongressDailyAM. The below column was first published on February 7. Hatch regularly covers telecommunications for National Journal's Technology Daily, and is a contributing editor to CongressDaily and National Journal magazine.)

from: Access North GA

Arts community lobbying for cut of cable television revenue

The Associated Press - ATLANTA
Georgia's arts community is picturing a way to get millions of dollars in funding through a proposal that would change the way cable television is delivered to homes.

Atlanta's art leaders are asking lawmakers to require that cable companies send one percent of their gross revenues to a state fund dedicated to art education. The change would be part of a new statewide cable franchise system that's being considered by lawmakers.

With over 100 million spent to influence national and state legislation to dismantle local video franchises (and PEG), it seems AT&T still doesn't have a sound delivery system. AT&T, now the biggest telephone company, is relying on Microsoft, the largest software manufacturer, for the software of their delivery system. "Your World...error... delivered".

from: Wall Street Journal

from: Denver Post

Qwest backs bill allowing state cable franchise

By Kimberly S. Johnson
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 02/06/2007 11:11:25 PM MST

Qwest's Colorado president Chuck Ward faced tough questions Tuesday from members of a state House committee, as he testified in support of a bill to create a statewide cable-TV franchise agreement.

from: Syracuse.com

Verizon has no deal for CNY

Wednesday, February 07, 2007
By William LaRue
Staff writer

That $42.99-a-month offer for 200 channels, which Verizon Communications is dangling for its FiOS cable-TV service, remains out of reach in Central New York.

from: Colombia Tribune

Telecom bill tunes out customers’ needs

J. SCOTT CHRISTIANSON
Published Tuesday, February 6, 2007
The Missouri Senate is considering one of the best-written pieces of legislation to come before it in some time: Senate Bill 284, the Missouri Video Franchise Bill. It should be a good bill, considering how much money AT&T spent to write it.

from: Schaumburg Review

Community TV: If cable changes, what would happen to public programming?

January 25, 2007
By PATRICK CORCORAN Staff Writer

Public access television providers are worried they'll be lost in the shuffle stemming from AT&T's video network proposal.