Save Access

from: KOLD News

Tucson Likely to Have Less Public Access Channels

March 2, 2007 09:02 PM

By J.D. Wallace, KOLD News 13 Reporter

There are plenty of channels to choose from, but the city is fighting to protect some of them.

"Part of what we're fighting for is, who we are as a community, and that kind of discussion of exchange of ideas has always been a part of Tucson," said Ward 6 Councilwoman Nina Trasoff.

from: KWWL. com

March 2, 2007 -- Des Moines

Cable Franchise Options

You may soon be able to have more cable television options. An Iowa Senate Committee approved a plan that would put the state in charge of granting cable franchises.

Current law puts that power in the hands of local government. The bill goes to the Senate.

From: Daily Herald

Naperville Tries to Box AT&T into a Corner

March 1, 2007
By Jake Griffin

Taking a cue from Itasca, Naperville leaders are placing giant boxes around the city to show residents what the landscape could look like if the state legislature takes away a municipality’s right to regulate cable franchise agreements.

from: Broadband Reports

AT&T Cuts U-Verse Deployment Goal in Half

March 1, 2007

A day after AT&T told the San Antonio Express News they were “taking off the brakes” on U-Verse IPTV & VDSL deployment, USAToday says that the company quietly cut their projected deployment goals in half for 2007. Fletcher Cook, an AT&T spokesman, tells USA Today the company decided there was no need to issue a press release to highlight the change. “We figure people are paying attention to the analysts’ call,”

from: LA Times

AT&T’s TV Rollout Slowed by Glitches

March 1, 2007
By James S. Granelli

California regulators are expected to adopt rules today to make it easier for phone companies to compete for cable TV customers. But don’t expect new competition next month — or even count on it next year.

From: Columbia Tribune

AT&T Plays Hardball with ‘Astroturf’

February 27, 2007
By J. Scott Christianson

Tomorrow the House Special Committee on Utilities will consider SB 284, the Missouri Video Franchise Bill. I wrote Feb. 6 that SB 284 is a bad bill. It would reduce public oversight of the cable companies that use public easements, it would essentially eliminate local PEG (public, education and government) channels, it would allow telecom companies to cherry-pick high-profit customers, and it would reduce the ability of government to audit those companies for compliance with the law.

from: Save Access Texas

The Committee That Never Met
by savetexasaccess on Thu, 2007-03-01

The 79th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 5 in the Second Special Session. This new statute called for the formation of a Telecommunications Competitiveness Legislative Oversight Committee that was supposed to “conduct a joint interim study” with the Public Utilities Commission to, among other things, examine the “continuation of public, educational, and government (PEG) access channels.” But this committee never met.

from: PR Newswire

Group Calls on Speaker Nunez to Fix Video Franchise Law After PUC Rejects Oversight Role, Consumer Protections

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a
perfunctory vote Thursday, the state Public Utilities Commission rejected the protests of California cities and consumer groups, deciding against any direct oversight of the state's new statewide video-service franchises for phone and cable companies. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights called on Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to amend the law to provide the nondiscrimination and other protections that he said would be guaranteed.

from: Government Technology

Local Governments Offer the "Truth" on Telecom Reform

Feb 28, 2007 News Release

Facing fierce lobbying efforts, national local government associations launched a new Web site to present the "real truth" on the potential effects of telecommunications reform on communities and consumers.

from: Cleveland Daily Banner

Cleveland City Council passes resolution in opposition to state franchising

The Council approved a resolution expressing its opposition to proposed legislation in the 105th General Assembly by AT&T titled the “Competitive Cable and Video Service Act.”