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from: Knox News

Bredesen questions tactics in cable-permitting fight
Governor says he may get involved in contentious proposal

Associated Press
Friday, February 1, 2008

CHATTANOOGA - Gov. Phil Bredesen is questioning the approach by House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh in the fight to change cable-permitting rules in Tennessee to encourage broadband access around the state.

from: Orlando Sentinel

Leaders fight move of government channels to upper end of cable TV dial

David Damron
Sentinel Staff Writer
February 1, 2008

Orange County Commissioner Teresa Jacobs is launching a statewide fight to stop cable companies from pushing government channels to the higher reaches of their digital-channel lineups.

from: Palo Alto Daily News

Broadcasting a warning for television
Friday Feb 1

Media advocate: Public programming needs to be protected

By Kristina Peterson / Daily News Staff Writer
Congress got a taste of Palo Alto's civic engagement this week when a local media coordinator flew across the country to testify about the importance of preserving public access programming.

from: Flint journal

Public Access Advocates Hoping to Hold on to Cable Channel

January 30, 2008
By Joe Lawlor

He’s a slouching, white-haired government critic who shouts out of your television set and shakes his hands to make a point.

But Bob Leonard, the former Genesee County prosecutor, no longer appears on Comcast Channel 17.

from: ZDNet

January 31st, 2008
Tornado destroyed woman’s house: then she gets this $2,025.45 bill from Time Warner Cable
Posted by Russell Shaw @ 3:21 pm

From Wisconsin’s Kenosha News comes this story that after a January 7 tornado demolished her home, and ensuing rain and snow made it a bear to fix, a woman from the area has received a $2,025.45 bill from her (now former, well duh) cable television service.

Note: Another case of rising 'basic cable' rates a a result of state franchises. Once local oversight is lifted by the FCC, cable and phone companies have raised the 'basic cable' rate by as much as 200%.

from: Moorpark Acorn

Time Warner wants to get off the hook with Moorpark

News Channel 5

Bredesen Questions Approach To Fight Over Cable Permitting
Posted: Jan 31, 2008 07:58 PM

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- Gov. Phil Bredesen is questioning the approach by House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh in the fight to change cable permitting rules in Tennessee to encourage broadband access around the state.

from: Colorado Confidential

Telecom Campaign Money Shifts to Democrats in Net Neutrality Fight

January 30, 2008
By Dan Whipple

As the new Congress considers legislating network neutrality for internet service providers, telecoms in Colorado are piling on the campaign cash for Democrats who will decide the issue. Campaign donations from telecoms in the state have shifted dramatically from Republican candidates to Democratic ones over the 2004-2008 election cycles.

from: Nieman Watchdog

Wisconsin: A case study in how corporations get the legislation they want

COMMENTARY | January 31, 2008

Telecom and broadband expert and activist Bruce Kushnick describes how model corporate bills get introduced and enacted in Wisconsin, to the detriment of the common good. (Second of two articles.)

from: MultiChannel News

AT&T Knocked for 'Inferior' PEG Channels
Alliance for Community Media Complains About U-verse TV to House Subcommittee
by Todd Spangler
Multichannel News
1/31/2008 5:24:00 PM

The Internet-based technology AT&T touts as giving it an edge over the cable industry was criticized this week by the Alliance for Community Media as providing an “inferior” platform for public, educational and government channels.