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from: Metro West Daily News

Verizon wants to even cable playing field

By Andrew J. Manuse/Daily News staff
Sunday, March 04, 2007 - Updated: 11:01 PM EST

In its latest effort to convince state lawmakers to make cable licensing a state-level job, Verizon Communications Inc. said its main competitor is unfairly benefiting from the current local-level process.

from: Union Librarian

"We are not going to let Verizon turn the information super highway into a dirt road in New England, " vows IBEW Local 2320 business manager Glenn Brackett.

Verizon Workers Fight Rural Telecom Redlining In New England

By Steve Early

Note: The telco mantra for obtaining state and national franchises has been that "competition" = "lower prices". This line is reflected in astroturf campaigns and free market think tank studies. The reality is areas where telcos have entered the market is turning out to be quite different - both telcos and cable companies are raising rates.

from: Washington Post

from: Isen Blog

Benefits of Competition My Ass
Monday, February 19, 2007

Here's a little nugget from today's Washington Post. The headline from the story should be, "Verizon Competes, Rates Climb."

Bills for thousands of Montgomery County cable viewers will increase by 4 percent starting March 1, when Comcast Corp., suburban Maryland's largest cable television provider, raises rates throughout the Washington region.

This page last updated 4/7/07
Recent State News via saveaccess: newswire

Bill Number(s):
Senate Docket 1975 read Bill
House Docket 3385
Introduced January 10, 2007 - pushed by Verizon.

Description:

This page last updated 4/29/07
Recent State News via saveaccess: newswire

Bill Number(s):
A1423 Read Bill inactive
S744 Read Bill inactive
A4871 Read Bill inactive

Note: In state after state this has been the same story. Telcos promise 'competition' and 'lower cable rates' in exchange for deregulatory legislation - yet prices continue to rise . . .

from: Washington Post

Cable War Fails to Offer Rate Relief in Montgomery

from: Technology Daily

Verizon Shifts Its Policy Focus To Boosting Broadband Deployment

By David Hatch

(Monday, February 12) Verizon Communications led the charge last year for deregulatory telecommunications legislation in Congress but has reversed course now that Democrats, who are considered less friendly to the Bell companies than Republicans, control Congress.

Note: The Telcos have found a solution for their rural build-out woes - government subsidies. But weren't they heavily subsidized throughout the '90's for this same task?

from: Info World

Verizon calls for new broadband incentives

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.