Save Access

from: Citizen's Voice

Eachus proposal could bring broadband to all Pa. residents

BY JILL WHALEN
STAFF WRITER
08/20/2007

State Rep. Todd Eachus has introduced legislation that seeks to provide high-speed Internet access to all residents of Pennsylvania.

from: Post Gazette

Who needs public access TV?

Some argue that 'Wayne's World' is still more democratic than YouTube

Sunday, August 05, 2007

By Adrian McCoy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

For many people, public access TV is still symbolized by "Wayne's World," a "Saturday Night Live" sketch that portrayed two slackers doing a so-bad-it's-good program from a basement rec room.

from: Post Gazette

Public access TV, then and now

Sunday, August 05, 2007
By Adrian McCoy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Public access TV dates back to the 1970s, when cable systems began to designate channels on which community members could create and air their own TV programs.

The FCC required that all cable systems in markets of a certain size provide a channel to the community, along with equipment, training, studio space and air time.

from: broadbandvision

Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Statewide Cable Franchise Fight

PA House Bill 1490 is AN ACT Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for Statewide cable franchises and for municipal regulation of franchise holders of; Statewide franchises. The bill was referred to the House Consumer Affairs committee on July 9.

from: PennLive.com

Verizon Can Limit Access to Services, Pennsylvania PUC Says

From Patriot-News, June 22, 2007
By David DeKok

The state Public Utility Commission voted 3-1 yesterday not to stop Verizon Communications from blocking access by low-income people on the Lifeline program to bundled telephone service packages, even if it could save customers money.

from: PennLive

House proposal would step up giving viewers more selection
Monday, May 21, 2007

Aproposal in the state House is a solid step to ward speeding up consumer choice in selecting cable television service while also providing necessary regulatory oversight.

from: PA House.com

Eachus proposal would allow consumers to choose their cable TV company

HARRISBURG, May 11 -- State Rep. Todd Eachus announced the introduction of legislation that would give consumers the power to choose their cable television provider, programming and service level, and protect consumers by providing state oversight of an industry that currently offers customers no independent arbitrators when disputes occur.

from: Philadelphia Business Journal

Pa. bill seeks to empower cable customers

Friday, May 11, 2007
by Athena D. Merritt

Consumer choice and protection are at the heart of a bill introduced on Friday that targets Pennsylvania's cable industry.

The bill, introduced by state Rep. Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, would create a statewide cable TV franchise law and give oversight of the industry to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Several states, including New Jersey, New York, Maryland and California currently have legislation that would create bodies with similar oversight, Eachus said.

This page last updated 2/7/08
Recent State News via saveaccess: newswire

Bill Number(s):
HB 1490 Read Bill
referred to Consumers Affairs July 2007, Hearing Feb 7th 2008

from: Delco Times.com

12/14/2006
Verizon hits the suburbs first

Solomon D. Leach , Of the Times Staff

After Verizon announced Tuesday that it had reached franchise agreements with 100 municipalities in Pennsylvania for its fiber-optic cable-TV, the company defended its approach to offer the service to suburban communities first.