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from: Business Week

Divided FCC approves new cable TV rules

By JOHN DUNBAR

BW Exclusives

WASHINGTON

A sharply divided Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 along partisan lines Wednesday to impose new measures meant to ensure that local governments do not block new competitors from entering the cable television market.

FCC Poised To Grant Telcos a Victory

By John Eggerton
from: saveaccess's blog | read more

from: Teletruth

TELETRUTH ALERT: December 18, 2006

The FCC Should Not Attempt a Run-Around of Congress to Pass Bell-Friendly Cable-Franchise Plan.

Teletruth files

* Comments: FCC Proposed Cable Franchise Plan & Chairman Martin's Speech.
* http://www.teletruth.org/docs/fccfranchise.doc (filed 12/13/06, 23pages)

from: Houston Chronicle

Dec. 17, 2006, 11:30AM
FCC head: Cities block cable competition

By JOHN DUNBAR Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Cable television rates keep going up while prices for other communications services are going down, says the nation's chief communications regulator, and he blames local governments for blocking competition.

From: Bloomberg News

Verizon, AT&T Lobby States for TV Licenses, Bypassing Congress

By Molly Peterson

Dec. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc. haven't fared well in Washington in their bid to expand their television business. They're doing a lot better in Trenton and Topeka.

The phone companies are backing off a two-year push to get Congress to help them win a bigger chunk of the $68 billion cable-TV market. Instead, they're shifting their focus to state capitals -- nine legislatures have already approved TV-licensing laws -- as well as the Federal Communications Commission.

from: Ars Technica

FCC votes on cable franchise reform this Wednesday

12/18/2006 1:45:24 PM, by Nate Anderson

The rules for local video franchising could be changing this Wednesday. At the agency's open meeting this week, Commissioners will "consider a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Section 621(a)(1)'s directive that local franchising authorities not unreasonably refused to award competitive franchises." If that's the sort of language that makes your eyes glaze over, then it's time to hit the coffee pot, because this could be big news for AT&T, Verizon, and other telecom firms that want to enter the television market.

from: LA Times

Congress likely to hang up on ’06 telecom reform

By Jim Puzzanghera
Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON – Big phone companies trying to dial in an overhaul of telecommunications laws will have to hang up and try the call again next year.

The Democratic takeover of Congress makes it increasingly unlikely that AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. will be able to push through stalled legislation to make it easier for them to sell pay television.

from: USA Today

FCC hopes to speed phone companies' entry into TV

By Leslie Cauley, USA TODAY

NEW YORK — Trying to spur competition and beat back cable TV prices, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin has proposed rules to make it easier for phone companies and others to jump into the video business.

from: CNET.com

No 'rubber stamp' on telecom mergers, judge says

By Anne Broache
http://news.com.com/No+rubber+stamp+on+telecom+mergers%2C+judge+says/2100-1036_3-6139838.html

Story last modified Thu Nov 30 16:19:23 PST 2006

WASHINGTON--A federal judge on Thursday continued to press the Department of Justice to explain why he should approve twin mergers involving some of the nation's largest telephone companies, but did not say when he will make a final decision.

from: Telecom Web

MI Video-Franchise Bill Draws Beltway Lobbyist Fire

Several Washington, D.C., lobbying and activist groups this week mustered Michigan residents and the network-neutrality issue to oppose pending legislation in that state that would create a border-to-border video-franchising system (TelecomWeb news break, Nov. 11).