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from: Nieman Watchdog

Why is Congress considering such anti-consumer telecom bills?

ASK THIS | July 26, 2006

Activist Bruce Kushnick writes that both telecom bills before Congress would be huge giveaways to the very same telecommunications giants that have in the past pocketed massive government subsidies while shafting consumers and knee-capping American competitiveness. But they've taken very good care of members of Congress

from: Hometown Life

Mayor wants to know why Knollenberg voted for cable bill

BY STACY JENKINS
STAFF WRITER

Farmington Hills Mayor Vicki Barnett wants to know why U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-9th District, voted for U.S. House Bill 5252, the cable franchising bill known as the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006.

from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Internet speed must not be based on ability to pay

By BARRY ORTON

Posted: July 22, 2006

Wonder why newspapers and television programs have been full of advertisements from an AT&T puppet "grass-roots" group called "TV4US," pushing the concept that cable TV prices are too high and competition is needed?

from: Ruetuers

U.S. House's Barton sees murky future for telco bill

Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:49 AM ET

By Jeremy Pelofsky

WASHINGTON, July 20 (Reuters) - The prospects of passing legislation this year that would help telephone companies more quickly get licenses to offer television service are "murky," a senior Republican U.S. House of Representatives lawmaker said on Thursday.

from: Multichannel news

Barton, Deal to Hold Retrans Roundtable

By Ted Hearn
7/18/2006

House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas) is planning to hold a roundtable discussion Wendesday afternoon on carriage negotiations between local TV stations and cable and satellite TV operators, also known as retransmission consent, according to industry lobbyists.

from: Examiner

Federal bill threatens existence of new public access channel

Kelsey Volkmann, The Examiner
Jul 18, 2006

Carroll County - The Community Media Center is launching a new public channel that will feature Carroll County’s towns at a time when legislation making its way through Congress threatens the very existence of public access channels nationwide, public TV advocates say.

from: Public Knowledge

A Duopoly By Any Other Name...

by Art Brodsky on July 10, 2006

As we head into what could be the end-game for telecom legislation this year, Kagan Research has come up with some fascinating insights into just how narrow the broadband market really is.

We’ve argued that broadband is a duopoly, with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) statistics showing that just about everyone who has broadband gets it from either the telephone company or the cable company. The FCC has affirmatively pursued the policy of creating this situation, and it’s one of the main reasons we need a Net Neutrality policy. There is no real choice.

from: Valley Independent

Cable TV fees safe?

By Jeff Pikulsky
VALLEY INDEPENDENT
Saturday, July 15, 2006

While many local officials fear their communities could lose cable franchise fee revenues because of a proposed federal law, a spokesman for the congressman who sponsored the legislation says that's not the case.

from: Channel 3000

Reality Check: Who's Behind TV Ads About Cable Prices
Group Called "Puppet Of AT&T"

UPDATED: 12:24 pm CDT July 11, 2006

MADISON, Wis. -- A multi-million dollar television advertising campaign is aiming to sway the public and lawmakers to change telecommunications policy.

from: National Journal

The Tangled Net Of 'Net Neutrality'

By Drew Clark

(Friday, July 7) Sometimes it seems that Ed Whitacre has a hard time controlling the words that come out of his mouth.

Last year, the telecommunications titan from San Antonio had carefully paved the way for his company, SBC Communications, to take over AT&T in what was a once-inconceivable reunion of the mother company and her offspring.