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from: Tallahassee.com

Sunday My View: Cable franchise laws and the public interest

By Andy Opel
Originally published April 14, 2007

As the Florida Legislature is considering significant changes to the laws that govern cable TV, broadband Internet and other emerging digital media technologies, a review of what is at stake may help us understand this technology puzzle.

from: Madison Commons

Bill Would Kill City Cable Channel
Susan Lampert Smith

It's just a guess, but in this government junkie town, I bet there are lots of people out there with a secret passion.

Admit it, you've stayed in to watch the City Council or the Board of Estimates or those rebroadcasts of the Madison Opera on the city cable channel.

from: Orlando Sentinel

OTHER VIEWS MY WORD

NAACP chief: Beware telecom bill that could hurt poor neighborhoods

Randolph Bracy Jr.
April 13, 2007

I am puzzled by legislation coming through the Legislature that major telephone companies are pushing to bring cable-television services into our neighborhoods. From where I sit, members of the Legislature should be looking under the hood and kicking the tires, for if they do, they would find that this legislation represents a step forward and two steps back.

from: Desmoines Register

Improve Iowa State Franchsing Bill: Address Predatory Pricing

April 12, 2007
By Bob Haug

The Iowa Legislature is poised to pass statewide cable-franchise legislation. On its face, the bill promises lower prices through vigorous competition, but consumers should beware.

From: Holman Courier

Wisconsin Video Franchise Bill Costs State Money

April 12, 2007
By Jo Anne Killeen

While the mantra behind a proposed cable franchise bill is to get government out of the way of the free market in order to increase competition, proposed legislation to take over franchising of cable companies would create eight new government jobs, increase government costs and reduce state and local sales tax revenues.

from: Metroland

High-Speed Debate

Telecommunications bill aims to reshape the industry, and draws fire from community media organizations and major corporations

“It is the consumer-protection pack age that we need in New York,” said state Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester) of Assembly Bill 3980. Brodsky is the bill’s sponsor. “It lowers rates, it enhances public access, it deals with universal and affordable service. It preserves what’s called net neutrality.”

from: Holmen Courier

Cable bill creates new state jobs

By JO ANNE KILLEEN | Staff writer
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While the mantra behind a proposed cable franchise bill is to get government out of the way of the free market in order to increase competition, proposed legislation to take over franchising of cable companies would create eight new government jobs, increase government costs and reduce state and local sales tax revenues.

from: Desmoines Register

Rein in prices by keeping tough local regulation

By NICHOLAS JOHNSON
SPECIAL TO THE REGISTER

April 12, 2007

Qwest can already offer cable-television service. But it wants more.

It wants to write the rules, and with state, not community, franchises.

from: Local Voice Ohio

Local Voice Ohio launched their website, localvoiceohio.org today, April 12, 2007 to be an organizing tool and information center in the coalition's battle to stop Big Telephone and Big Cable from bankrupting the public interest in Ohio in the area of video franchising.

Local Voice Ohio ("LVO") is a statewide coalition of municipalities, townships, the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Telecommunications Officer and Advisors (OH-NATOA), the Ohio/Kentucky Chapter of the Alliance for Community Media (OK-Alliance) and other affected parties who are coming together to oppose Ohio Senate Bill 117 ("SB 117"), introduced on March 15, 2007.

from: Tennessean.com via: Keep it Local Tennessee

It's 'lobbyists gone wild' in the legislative telecommunication fight

By LARRY DAUGHTREY
Sunday, 04/08/07

Dick Armey, majority leader for the Gingrich Gang that voters ousted from control in Washington in November, had some words of wisdom for the Tennessee legislature last week: