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from: Light Reading

Telecom Trade Reps Are Very Well Paid Reps
JUNE 14, 2006

Maybe long-distance calling costs next-to-nothing, but having a voice in Washington sure ain't cheap for the big telcos and cable MSOs.

In fact, Light Reading has learned that Walter McCormick, CEO of the United States Telecom Association (USTelecom) commands a bigger payday than the heads of other communications-related associations, including the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) .

from: New Networks Teletruth

Teletruth News Analysis: June 13, 2006
Verizon's FiOS, AT&T's Lightspeed - The Rise of the Crippled Networks.

Dear Senate: Investigate this:

America is 16th in broadband and basing our Nation's future on inferior products that may never show up will be bad for our economic growth and technological edge. More importantly - We already paid over $200 billion in excess fees? What happened to the money and our promised fiber optic future?.

from: USA Today

Control over cable TV shifting
Phone companies want power to go to state, fed level

By Deborah Yao
The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — Phone companies are leading efforts to rewrite rules giving local governments control over cable TV in their areas.

Under bills passed or pending in at least 14 states and Congress, pay-TV control would shift to state or federal regulators. That would mean phone and cable companies no longer would have to make individual local franchise deals.

from: American Prospect

It’s Alright, Ma Bell
What the NSA eavesdropping program might tell us about the Bush administration’s love for telecom monopolies.

By Alexander Dryer

Last week, as details emerged of the Justice Department’s plan to have Internet providers log customers’ Web clicks and e-mails, the method behind the Bush administration’s domestic surveillance finally became discernible. The new initiative follows the pattern set by the NSA call-tracking program: The government deputizes telecommunications companies to carry out its spying.

from: Consumer Affairs

Congress Moves Quickly To Satisfy Telecom Demands

House Scraps Net Neutrality, Gives Telecoms Free Ride to Enter Cable Business

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.Com

The House of Representatives has passed its version of the most sweeping updates to telecommunications law in a decade, making it easier for telecom companies to compete with cable franchises, addressing issues of municipalities developing Wi-Fi networks tinkering with the Universal Service Fund that all telecoms pay into.

from: Detroit Free Press

Cable fight winner unclear
Competition could help consumers, maybe

BY DAWSON BELL
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

June 11, 2006

Dumping Michigan's community-based cable television system for franchising and regulation could touch off a price war that benefits people who watch television, use the Internet and make phone calls.

from: TMP Cafe - Art Brodsky

The House Votes on Net Neutrality
By Art Brodsky

There is an old cliche that the score of a game can be deceiving. In the case of the House vote on Net Neutrality Thursday night, that cliche doesn't work. The 269-152 vote is as bad as it looks.

But another cliche says it ain't over until it's over. And it ain't over.

from: New York Times

June 9, 2006
House Backs Telecom Bill Favoring Phone Companies

By STEPHEN LABATON
WASHINGTON, June 8

The House of Representatives approved the most extensive telecommunications legislation in a decade on Thursday, largely ratifying the policy agenda of the nation's largest telephone companies.

Note: This AP wire story reads like a Telcom press release, quoting only majority leaders and astroturf spokesperson Mike McCurry.

Lawmakers promise lower cable bills under telecom bill

JIM ABRAMS
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Monopolies in many cable TV markets could end under House-passed legislation that supporters said would increase competition and drive down prices.

The far-reaching telecommunications legislation, passed 321-101 Thursday night, would encourage telephone companies and others to enter video markets by scrapping the time-consuming system where prospective providers must negotiate individually with every locality.

from:XChange mag

House Passes COPE Act to Dismay of Consumer, Competitive Carrier Advocates
By Kelly M. Teal
Posted on: 06/08/2006

The House, just after 10 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, passed the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement (COPE) Act without the net neutrality provisions advocates had worked hard to get representatives to adopt.