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from: Denver Post

Qwest renews bid for franchise deals
The firm will negotiate to provide television services in 12 Colorado cities to compete with Comcast.

By Kimberly S. Johnson and Steve McMillan
Denver Post Staff Writers
Article Last Updated: 05/03/2007 02:39:57 AM MDT

Qwest plans to relaunch its efforts to reach video-franchise agreements with a dozen Colorado cities in the next couple of months, the company's state president said Wednesday.

from: Braintree Forum

Views differ on cable franchise negotiations

By Robert Aicardi
GateHouse Media
Wed May 02, 2007, 04:22 PM EDT

Saying that he knows first hand how important local franchise negotiations are to a community, Michael Modestino, a former cable advisory committee chairman, believes that Verizon is attempting to bypass this process and avoid having to deal with communities where they wish to offer cable television services.

The Florida bill de-funds and effectively ends PEG channel and facility support. The poor build-out and anti-red-lining provisions ensure that many communities will be left out and under-served. The telcos direct many of their lobby dollars and donations to minority organizations, as a result, the legislators below voted for a bill that will silence and disenfranchise their constituents - very sad.

from: Broadcasting & Cable

Armey Claims Florida Franchise Victory
By The Associated Press

(Broadcasting & Cable) _ Freedomworks, a lobby for smaller government and lower taxes backed by Forbes CEO Steve Forbes, is praising the Florida legislature for passing the Consumer Choice Act 117-2 this week, and giving itself a pat on the back too.

from: Dee Dee Halleck

Rights of Way Give Away
Monday, April 30, 2007

Georgia has just passed in both houses a bill which virtually eliminates local control of public rights of way. The telecom giants have been pushing this hard. One rep counted 47 lobbyists from ATT who had been pursuing her.

from: Multichannel News

Franchise Bills Dominate State Debates
But Cable Groups Target VoIP Rules, Pole Fees Too

By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 4/30/2007

For the second consecutive year, franchise-reform bills continue to nearly monopolize the time and lobbying muscle of the state cable trade associations. But a few of those groups are also trying to be proactive, addressing such problems as the soaring pole-attachment rates charged by in-state telephone providers.

from: Multichannel News

Wisconsin Video Franchise Bill Includes DBS

April 30, 2007

The Wisconsin State Assembly tentatively approved a state franchising bill that contains a clause that will include direct-broadcast satellite providers under the state’s customer-service rules.

The Assembly vote was Apr

from: St. Petersburg Times

As cable TV bill heads to Crist, debate goes on

By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published May 1, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - The House cleared for Gov. Charlie Crist's signature on Monday a long-disputed bill that would open the cable TV market to fiber-optic telecommunications companies.

from: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

House adopts Senate bill to deregulate cable TV

By Josh Hafenbrack
Tallahassee Bureau

May 1, 2007

TALLAHASSEE · Fiercely fought legislation to drive more competition in Florida's cable TV markets now has one more stop: Gov. Charlie Crist.

from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

State bills may turn off public access TV
Stations could be forced to close or cut programs

By ANNYSA JOHNSON
anjohnson@journalsentinel.com
Posted: April 28, 2007

West Allis - For 25 years, the West Allis Community Media Center's public access Channel 14 has been a window on the world of this Milwaukee County city.