Save Access

Note: Another case of rising 'basic cable' rates a a result of state franchises. Once local oversight is lifted by the FCC, cable and phone companies have raised the 'basic cable' rate by as much as 200%.

from: Moorpark Acorn

Time Warner wants to get off the hook with Moorpark

News Channel 5

Bredesen Questions Approach To Fight Over Cable Permitting
Posted: Jan 31, 2008 07:58 PM

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- Gov. Phil Bredesen is questioning the approach by House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh in the fight to change cable permitting rules in Tennessee to encourage broadband access around the state.

from: Nieman Watchdog

Wisconsin: A case study in how corporations get the legislation they want

COMMENTARY | January 31, 2008

Telecom and broadband expert and activist Bruce Kushnick describes how model corporate bills get introduced and enacted in Wisconsin, to the detriment of the common good. (Second of two articles.)

from: MultiChannel News

AT&T Knocked for 'Inferior' PEG Channels
Alliance for Community Media Complains About U-verse TV to House Subcommittee
by Todd Spangler
Multichannel News
1/31/2008 5:24:00 PM

The Internet-based technology AT&T touts as giving it an edge over the cable industry was criticized this week by the Alliance for Community Media as providing an “inferior” platform for public, educational and government channels.

from: Media Mouse

Are you laughing with your cable provider?

About a year ago, Comcast ran an ad called the "Laugh Riot" which had the look of a Seattle style WTO protest, featuring cops in riot gear, people throwing things at the cops, and even street puppets. Unlike real confrontations between cops and street protesters where people get beat up and arrested, this commercial invited viewers to get Comcast cable and enjoy all the wonderful comedy programs they offered.

from: Detroit Free Press

Comcast apologizes in channel dispute
Agreement sought on public-access switch

January 30, 2008

By JUSTIN HYDE

FREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF

WASHINGTON -- A top Comcast executive apologized Tuesday to officials in Dearborn and other communities for pushing plans to move public-access cable channels, which would make them less available to up to 450,000 customers.

from: TATOA

Letter to Tennessee PEG from TATOA

Texas Association of Telecommunication Officers and Advisors(TATOA)
P.O. Box 1088, Austin, Texas 78767

January 22, 2008

Dear Tennessee colleagues:

I understand that you are considering legislation that would undo the current system of local franchising for cable television services in favor of a state-issued certificate for new entrants such as AT&T. Because Texas is frequently referenced by proponents of this legislation (such as AT&T and “astroturf” groups like TV4US) as a “success story” for state-issued franchising legislation, we felt it would be important to correct some popular misconceptions about our experience in the Lone Star State.

from: House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Statement by Dingell at PEG Hearing

January 29, 2008

Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this very important hearing. Let me begin by welcoming several friends here today, including my dear friend Mayor O’Reilly of Dearborn, Michigan. Thank you for your time and efforts to participate in today’s hearing.

from: Broadcasting and Cable

Comcast Defends Michigan PEG-Channel Move
Executive VP David Cohen Testifies Before House Energy & Commerce Committee
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/29/2008 8:56:00 AM

Comcast was on Capitol Hill Tuesday defending its transition of some Michigan PEG (public, educational and government) channels to digital delivery but apologizing for the way it was handled.

from: MultiChannel News

Dingell Praises Comcast For PEG Flexibility
Comcast Official Cites 'Friendly' Talks With Michigan Local Officials
By Ted Hearn -- Multichannel News, 1/29/2008 2:51:00 PM

House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) Tuesday afternoon saluted Comcast Corp. for its willingness to reach a compromise with local governments in Michigan on the carriage of public, educational, governmental channels. Comcast, for its part, affirmed it was not discriminating against PEG channels.