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RELEASE: Senate Commerce Committee Reaffirms Low Power Radio Service
CONTACT: Hannah Sassaman, hannahjs@prometheusradio.org, 215-727-9620 Pete Tridish petri@prometheusradio.org, 215-605-9297

On June 28th, advocates of low power FM (LPFM) radio, a service used by churches, schools, activist organizations, emergency responders, and hundreds of communities, applauded the Senate Commerce Committee's vote to expand the low power FM radio service. The vote approved an amendment to a major telecommunications bill currently before the Commerce Committee. This vote marks a major step towards the expansion of low power FM radio to the large cities of the United States, and potentially hundreds, if not thousands, of other communities across this country. The vote also affirms the Commerce Committee's previous support of LPFM in 2004 and 2005.

from: Broadcasting & Cable

Commerce Narrowly Defeats Build-Out Provision

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/28/2006 1:05:00 PM

In an extremely close vote (12 to 10), the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday defeated a phased-in video franchise build-out requirement.

The amendment, co-sponsored by Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) would have no build-out requirement for the first three years, then a requirement of a 15% building out within two years, then if that were achieved, another 20% until the build-out was complete.

from: Broadcasting Cable

McCain À La Carte Bill Voted Down

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/28/2006 12:59:00 PM

The Senate Commerce Committee voted overwhelmingly not to effectively require cable operators to offer their service à la carte. That vote came as part of the day-long, continuing mark-up of the video franchise/telecommunications-reform bill that is getting larger by the day.

from: Hollywood Reporter

Senate Panel Clears Broadcast Flag

From Hollywood Reporter, June 28, 2006
By Brooks Boliek

A key Senate committee approved legislation that ultimately will give the FCC authority to promulgate regulations designed to protect content delivered by digital broadcasts.

from: Reuters

US Senate's Stevens short on votes for telco bill
Tue Jun 27, 2006 6:04 PM ET

By Jeremy Pelofsky

WASHINGTON, June 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens said on Tuesday he does not yet have the necessary votes to get legislation to overhaul communications laws through the full Senate.

from: Broadcasting & Cable

Stevens OK With Build-Out Info Addition
By John Eggerton, STAFF

The Senate Commerce Committee began its second day of hearings on video franchise reform with Chairman Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) trying to accommodate a host of groups in marking up a bill that will pass committee and the Senate floor.

Technology Daily
from: National Journal

Senate Commerce Panel Rejects Key Democratic Telco Amendments

By Drew Clark

(Tuesday, June 27) The Senate Commerce Committee rejected three Democratic amendments to a telecommunications package. The amendments covered Internet telephone regulation, communications subsidies for emergency responders and city cable franchises.

from: SF Gate

Bad deal for cable customers AT&T, Assembly Dems bill's winners

- Jamie Court
Sunday, June 25, 2006

AT&T is spending tens of millions of dollars on advertising, lobbying and campaign contributions in California to bring what it claims is more choice and greater competition to the cable television industry. That's half right. There would be more choices. But not for you and me, just for AT&T.

from: CNET
State governments push for Net neutrality laws

By Anne Broache

As a U.S. Senate panel prepares for a vote on Net neutrality legislation this week, state attorneys general in New York and California are joining Internet companies in saying that network operators must not be permitted to prioritize certain broadband content and services.

from: Capital Weekly

AT&T's new privacy policy is sticking point in cable-access legislation

By Shane Goldmacher

(published June 26th, 2006)
On Tuesday, the Senate utilities committee will consider legislation to drastically expand telephone companies' access to California's lucrative video- and Internet-services market.