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from: MetroWest Daily News

FiOS leaves public access out of the loop
By Galen Moore/ Daily News staff

Fri May 25, 2007, 12:32 AM EDT

The red-shirted Verizon salesman has been spotted in Marlborough, and soon may be knocking on doors Southborough. The new FiOS fiber-optic cable he is selling comes with high-definition channels and high-speed Internet, but not local public-access channels.

from: Consumers Union

Cable Competition: Where Up Is Down and More Is Less

From HearUsNow.org, May 23, 2007
By Bob Williams

For some time now big telecom companies such as Verizon and AT&T have been telling state and local officials that allowing them to offer cable television service in their communities will benefit consumers by spurring new competition, driving down prices and improving service.

from: MultiChannel News

Franchise-Reform Bill Withdrawn in Tennessee

(Multichannel News) _ Citing opposition from local governments, the sponsor of a Tennessee bill to reform cable franchising http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/HB1421.pdf is withdrawing the legislation.

from: MetroPulse

Big Bucks
The full-employment-for-lobbyist bill this year is about your cable bill

by Frank Cagle

Every legislative session there is a full-employment-for-lobbyist bill--some battle between well-heeled business interests requiring a squadron of wheeler dealers to advise our citizen legislators on what's good for the folks back home.

from: Knox Views

AT&T cable bill to be withdrawn

Submitted by R. Neal on Thu, 2007/05/24

Sponsors of the AT&T statewide cable franchise bill say they will withdraw the bill for this year. They didn't feel they would have they votes and they are disappointed by the lack of support from local governments. It will likely be back for the 2008 session.

from: The City Paper

AT&T bill for cable franchising delayed until ’08, lawmakers say
By John Rodgers, jrodgers@nashvillecitypaper.com
May 24, 2007

AT&T-backed legislation to allow the telecom to get a statewide television franchise to start competing against cable companies will be delayed until 2008, key lawmakers said Wednesday.

from: Keep Us Connected

Hearing and Possible Vote on HB 1500
When: Thursday, May 24 at 10 a.m.
Where: Capitol Building, Room 118, Springfield, Illinois

As originally written, HB 1500 is harmful to the people of Illinois. The Illinois Telecommunications Committee continues to work with the Illinois Attorney General's office, municipalities, public, educational and government (PEG) access TV centers, and other parties on an amendment to HB 1500. Work continues on the original form of HB 1500 in order to protect public access channels and to bring meaningful competition and consumer protections to Illinois residents. Click here for original draft of HB 1500.

Note: The reality of "competition=lower prices" finally sets in - too late. It really means the prices are "competitive" meaning the same. In addition PEG channels bear a greater cost with less income. And eventually the entry level price for 'basic cable' will skyrocket because once a competitor enters a local market the FCC will lift local municipal authority over the regulation of basic cable pricing.

from: MultiChanne News

FiOS Hits Houston, But Without TV

(Multichannel News) _ Verizon Communications Friday will begin to push fiber-optic FiOS service to residents in the Houston area, but for now, the telco is offering Internet and voice services around the Bayou City, not video.

from: Nashville Scene

Cable Wars
While King Kong and Godzilla fight, public access stations try not to get flattened

by Jim Ridley

When David fights Goliath, everybody has a rooting stake in the underdog. But what happens when one Goliath opens a slingshot of whoop-ass on another? For many people, it’s hard to work up much outrage for the current battle royale on Capitol Hill over cable franchising legislation—a tussle that essentially pits AT&T’s Engulf vs. Comcast’s Devour, with Tennessee cable subscribers watching only to see which hairy foot will be the one to land on them.