Save Access

from: The News Herald

The whole thing stinks
04/29/2007

Imagine for a moment that there's an emergency at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in North Perry. Officials need to get information out quickly.

Aside from news media, safety forces likely would turn to local public access channels on cable television. The message would scrawl across the bottom of television screens, alerting people to a problem.

from: News Herald

Cable bill stirs access concern
Jenny May/JMay@News-Herald.com
04/29/2007

Mentor among cities opposed to Ohio Senate bill that limits rights for individual towns

Each week, Mentor resident Sara Shaner looks forward to watching Channel 12, her city's local cable-access channel.

from: MyDD

A Free Internet Splits Labor

by Matt Stoller, Sat Apr 28, 2007 at 01:07:16 PM EST

With the announcement that the US has fallen to 14th in broadband penetration in the world, and that India is going to offer free broadband access to all residents by 2009, it's time to get our house in order. The reason we don't have an effective path towards a universal open internet, and why net neutrality is not in Speaker Pelosi's Innovation Agenda, is at least part because of the strategic choices of the Communications Workers of America. The more I delve into their politics, the less sense it makes, because CWA has a campaign that sounds like it's exactly what we want: SpeedMatters.org.

from: Sun Sentinel

Titans battle for control of cable TV in Florida

By Josh Hafenbrack
Tallahassee Bureau

April 28, 2007

TALLAHASSEE · They've broadcast their talking points in campaign-style commercials, using the TV screens they're fighting over to argue about who offers the best deal for Florida cable customers.

from: Blandin on Broadband

Statewide Cable Franchising (HF2351) Passed with no Recommendations

I have tried (not really hard) to find the testimony from the Statewide Cable Franchising hearing on April 13. It wasn’t televised. There was no video archive. So tonight I listened to the audio archive. (I have blogged about previous hearings.)

from: TampaBay.com

April 27, 2007
Cable and Telecoms Come to Agreements

With only three dissents, senators adopted the well-lobbied cable bill making it easier for telephone companies to enter the cable TV market.

What started this session as a battle between cable and local goverments on one side and telephone companies on the other ended with local governments out in the cold, unable to even govern utilities' access to their right-of-ways under the terms of the bill.

from: The Capital Times

Charles Uphoff: Don't fall for propaganda on cable franchise bill

By Charles Uphoff

Is the Wisconsin Legislature being hijacked?

Lobbyists for telecommunications giant AT&T have been pressuring Wisconsin legislators to pass sweeping changes in the laws regulating cable TV with a million-dollar media campaign and behind the scenes arm-twisting that would make Karl Rove blush.

from: Sheboygan Press

For the bill: www.wewantchoice.com
Against the bill: www.saveaccesswisconsin.org

Posted April 27, 2007

Opinions split on cable TV bill
Lower rates may also lead to less local control

By Eric Litke
Sheboygan Press staff

A state bill nearing approval that could lower cable TV rates may also take away nearly all local control of cable franchises, which has city officials worried.

from: Nashville City Paper

Comcast miffed as Chamber takes cable stance
By Bill Harless, bharless@nashvillecitypaper.com
April 27, 2007

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce board endorsed state legislation yesterday that would allow telecommunications giant AT&T — which recently merged with BellSouth — to obtain a statewide franchise to provide television service.

from: Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa Franchise Bill Passes on to Governor’s Desk

April 26, 2007
By Maria Houser Conzemius

There is a new guy in town—Qwest. SF554 (video franchise bill) has passed the Senate and House, even though our representatives put up a valiant fight. But there is still hope.