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from: Germantown News

Telecommunication bill passes hurdle
By Don Moore

On Tuesday, April 17, the Tennessee House subcommittee on utilities and banking passed an amended version of the cable/video franchising bill by a vote of 8 to 6. Representative Steve McManus (Rep.-Cordova), a member of the committee, voted against the bill. Rep. Brian Kelsey (Rep.-East Memphis/Germantown), also a committee member, voted in favor.

from: MCDAC Blog

Sen. Bill 117 & the Ohio Constitution's Impairment of Contracts Clause

One of the bills being talked about in the General Assembly is Sen. Bill 117 which would apparently wipe out local franchise agreements between cable tv providers and local governments. Apparently members of the General Assembly are taking some heat from mayors and other local government officials. You can read about their pressuring the Ohio Senate by clicking on the link in this entry's title.

from: Madison.com

Editorial: Foul smell of campaign cash

State Sen. Jeff Plale, D-South Milwaukee, will not have to face the voters again until 2010.

Just re-elected with ease for another four-year term representing a safe Democratic district in one of the state's most Democratic counties, Plale has no need to be raising money for another campaign.

from: Badger Hearald

Lawmakers delay cable bill decision

by Keegan Kyle
Wednesday, April 25, 2007

State Democrats blocked Republican efforts in the Assembly and Senate Tuesday to pass legislation that aims to increase cable competition in Wisconsin.

In the Democrat-controlled Senate, legislators voted along party lines to send the bill to the Joint Finance Committee, which handles bills with significant financial implications.

from: St. Petersburg Times

Cable bill loses a critical clause

By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published April 25, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - In the telephone industry's multimillion-dollar battle for access to Florida's TV market, cable companies and consumer groups suffered a serious blow Tuesday.

from: The Ledger

Cable Bill Clears Senate Panel
Plan would make it easier for telephone companies to offer television service.

By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Ledger Tallahassee Bureau

Published Wednesday, April 25, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - A bill that would make it easier for phone companies to offer cable television services cleared its last Senate committee Tuesday, setting up a final floor fight later this week that will decide the fate of the proposal.

from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Assembly nears approval of cable bill
State would issue franchises to providers

By STEVEN WALTERS
swalters@journalsentinel.com
Posted: April 24, 2007

Madison - The state Assembly on Tuesday tentatively approved a bill that would require state officials - instead of local governments - to issue cable TV and video broadcast franchises and investigate consumers' complaints.

from: Palm Beach Post

Phone cable plan touted as boon, feared as bias

By Kristi E. Swartz

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

TALLAHASSEE — Beverly Campbell said mortgage lenders and pizza delivery guys already bypass her Pine Hills neighborhood in west Orlando.

from: Uncommon Sense TV

Information on Ohio Senate Bill SB 117 and State Video Franchising

April 24th, 2007
by Andy in Media and Democracy

A briefing on SB 117 from Walter & Haverfield’s client newsletter

from: Brewed Fresh Daily

Cleveland City Councilman Matt Zone’s testimony to the Ohio Senate on SB117

Councilman Zone emailed a copy of his testimony:

Good Afternoon Mr. Chairman and members of the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee. My name is Matt Zone and I am a Councilmember of the City of Cleveland and Chair of the Public Utilities Committee. I appreciate the opportunity to speak today and to express the strong opposition of the City of Cleveland to Senate Bill 117.