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Excellent overview and response to local media coverage of video franchises

from: Sentry

Vigue: Letter writer uses ‘inaccuracies’ to make case

Editor:

I read with interest the response by Annie Kerry to an interview that I gave to the Sentry two weeks ago regarding the current Federal Telecommunications legislation, HR 5252 [also known as the Advanced Telecommunications Opportunity Reform (ATOR) bill]. The arguments given by Annie Kerry are remarkably similar to those given by telecom industry lobbying groups and public relations firms in other parts of the country. They complain that cities and towns across the country are somehow preventing Verizon, AT&T, SBC and other Telecommunications companies from providing low cost, competitive video service to residents. Let’s take a look at the facts:

from: Technology Daily

Lawmakers Hint At Conditions On AT&T-BellSouth Merger

By David Hatch

(Thursday, September 28) Two influential senators urged the FCC and Justice Department to consider imposing conditions on the proposed AT&T and BellSouth telecommunications merger.

from: Digital Destiny

Shame on the GOP and Dems in California: Gutting Community Oversight of Broadband

If we ever needed evidence about how both major political parties are in the pocket of the telecommunications industry’s very deep pockets, all we need to do is look at California. The new cable law kills the historic and critical role local governments have played in ensuring cable systems are held accountable and required to do public service. Now all franchising (the licensing of cable systems) will be governed by a single statewide agreement. Doling out these “one-size fits all, lowest common denominator” deals will be the feckless Public Utility Commission.

From: Broadcasting & Cable

Telcos Celebrate Franchise Wins

From Broadcasting & Cable, September 29, 2006
By John Eggerton

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Friday signed the state’s new video franchise reform legislation.

The law makes it easier for competitors like telephone companies to get into the multichannel video business in competition to cable.

A review of Verizon's recent update for analysts and investors. You can download the PowerPoint presentation and learn about "Driving Growth and increasing wallet share.

from: Broadband Reports

Fee Fi Fo Fios
Verizon's plan to dominate broadband going swimmingly

There is more discussion of this at: Broadband Reports. It should be noted that cable companies have often attempted this ploy when negotiating local franchises.

from: Telephony Online

Verizon planning local content unit

from: Philadelphia Inquirer

Verizon's push into TV to cost $18 billion
The second-largest U.S. telephone company wants to compete with Comcast and other cable providers.

By Christopher Stern and Rebecca Barr
Bloomberg News

Verizon Communications Inc., the second-largest U.S. telephone company, said yesterday that it planned to spend $22.9 billion expanding its fiber-optic Internet and television network through 2010, placing a price tag on its effort to compete with the cable-TV business for the first time.

from: NY Times

September 28, 2006
Rural Areas Left in Slow Lane of High-Speed Data Highway

By KEN BELSON
CANAAN, Vt. — For most businesses, the goal is to attract as many customers as possible. But in the fast-changing telephone industry, companies are increasingly trying to get rid of many of theirs.

from: Digital Destiny

Telco’s Plot New Challenges to Localism and Cable Broadband

September 22nd, 2006

The telephone broadband giants—AT&T and Verizon—say they are stepping up efforts to scuttle the local cable franchising process. According to Light Reading, they “are working hard at the state level to push statewide franchises into law…” While the phone lobby hopes that Congress will pass the Stevens/Barton/Rush telecom give-away bill this session, they acknowledge that they were blind sighted by the fierce support for network neutrality. “For many of us it’s just been really frustrating,” says Jeff Brueggeman, AT&T VP of regulatory planning and policy in Washington.” As noted in Light Reading, Brueggeman told a conference that he and his colleagues didn’t see the net neutrality log-jam coming. So that’s why they plan to continue state-by-state, to secure laws that preempt the ability of local governments—and their citizens/residents—to ensure broadband services really benefit the public.

for more on this merger, see the Free Press page and send a letter through their campaign.

from: Broadband Reports

FCC Aims to Approve AT&T-BellSouth Merger
With absolutely no conditions...