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from: Sascha Meinrath

In Illinois, AT&T Lobbyists Hole up In State Legislator Offices, Will Attempt Midnight Legislative Coup.

Wed, 2007-05-30 16:50

I've just learned that AT&T lobbyists are holed up in state legislators offices and are rewriting state laws that they will attempt to get passed in the dead of night. One might think that this is some sort of nefarious plot to some Gotham City corruption scandal, but it's happening right now in the State of Illinois. With massive public opposition to HB1500, it appears likely that AT&T and it's legislators will attempt to attach amendments to SB 678.

From KeepUsConnected.org

Amended Video Franchise Bill Not Heard in Illinois

May 29, 2007

No amendment to House Bill 1500 was introduced at today’s House Telecommunications Committee hearing. As previously reported, considerable work has been completed on an amendment to the bill as the Attorney General's office and House staff work with telephone and cable companies, cities, PEGs and consumer advocates to craft a bill that will result in fair competition.

Monday's Crain's Chicago Business cites Springfield sources as saying AT&T is balking at a revised, more pro-consumer bill brokered by Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

Whether or not a bill gets out by the end of this session, progress on the HB 1500 amendment lays a firm foundation for any future telecom legislation. We are grateful for the excellent work of Susan Satter of the Attorney General's office and Louie Mossos of Speaker Madigan's staff on the HB 1500 amendment.

And thanks to all of you for keeping alive our call to Springfield to Keep Us Connected.

Click here for original draft of HB 1500.
Click here to learn more about the Keep Us Connected coalition.

CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR

Click here to find phone numbers for your state representative.

Talking Points
As originally written, HB 1500:

Harms Public, Educational and Government (PEG) Access TV channels
Drops meaningful requirements that companies serve everyone
Weakens customer service protections
Harms fair competition

from: Illinois Issues

Stay tuned on cable bill
Tuesday, May 29, 2007

A measure posing AT&T against local cable and telephone companies could come to light soon in a House committee, where it’s been stalled for more than a month. The House Telecommunications Committee met Tuesday morning but recessed to “the call of the chair,” allowing sponsor Rep. James Brosnahan, an Evergreen Park Democrat, to reconvene the committee as soon as the compromise language is ready to go. He said he hopes that would happen in the next two days.

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.

from: MultiChannel News

Court: Chicago May Collect Cable-Data Fee
Illinois Appellate Court Reverses Chicago Cable-Modem-Fee Ruling
By Ted Hearn -- Multichannel News, 5/22/2007 11:59:00 PM

Comcast owes the City of Chicago as much as 5% of its high-speed Internet-access revenue generated from all city-based data customers in the past five years, according to an Illinois state court ruling that conflicts with multiple court rulings on the same regulatory issue.

from: Illinois Issues

ENDS AND MEANS

A legislative measure would end most regulation of new wired video service

by Charles N. Wheeler III

"When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled."

African proverb

In the legislative battle now under way between two heavyweight industries — the telephone companies and the cable television providers — what's at risk of getting trampled is the public interest.

from: Daily Southtown

Not Just ‘a Bunch of Hooey’

May 16, 2007
By Barbara Popovic

In “Cable wars” (Insight, May 13), the Southtown reports on AT&T’s push for statewide franchising, launched with House Bill 1500 at the beginning of this year’s Illinois legislative session.

frm: Kane County Chronicle

Officials: Boxes increase awareness

By KAREN LONG - klong@kcchronicle.com

GENEVA – Some concerns that Geneva officials had about a bill for state-issued authorization for cable and video services might be addressed through amendments.

from: Surburban Chicago News

Montgomery, Illinois, Joins Opposition to Cable TV Bill

From Beacon News, May 15, 2007
By Andre Salles

The Village Board unanimously voted Tuesday to join other Fox Valley municipalities in opposing state control of cable and video service permits.

from: Chicago Tribune

TV Standards

May 8, 2007
By Cal Audrain

The Tribune’s May 1 editorial “Bring on cable competition” correctly points out that protection of public access channels is achievable in statewide legislation. Unfortunately that has not been true in the majority of the states where AT&T-backed legislation has passed to date.