Save Access

from: Blogging Broadband

Book Report Raises Questions About Texas’ SB5

Those keeping score know that the Texas legislature really started the state-mandated video franchise train down the tracks. SB5 was passed in Texas at the end of 2005. It was a natural place for the phone companies to get the ball rolling, as SBC, now the new AT&T, called Texas home. Since SB5 passed, a likely-unprecedented wave of states adopted some form of “shall issue” video franchising — all of it aimed at helping the phone companies get into the cable business.

The leaked Time Warner memo of January annoucing a Texas trial to meter cumulative bandwidth usage for new subscribers and charging a levy for excess consumption should be met with outrage and derision. If implemented nationally, such metering will result in another layer of tiered internet access and turn the web into something resembling a cable TV package, both in escalating cost and eventual loss of content diversity.

from: SaveAccess Texas

This Could Be The End of Public Access in Austin...
Submitted by savetexasaccess on Fri, 2008-02-15 19:03.

. . . if Time Warner successfully sues to get out of the franchise agreement with the City.

The following article “Court allows Texas Cable Industry to Challenge State Law” appeared in last week’s Austin American Statesman (Feb. 8, 2008).

Note: File under political payback. In the letter to Employees, AT&T president reminds employees that they owe King for helping to pass SB5, the first state-wide video franchise passed in the country - at AT&T's request.

from: Star Telegram

AT&T letter supporting King draws criticism

from: El Paso Times

El Paso to expand cable government channel
By David Crowder / El Paso Time
Article Launched: 11/19/2007 12:00:00 AM MST

When Time Warner gets out of the business of broadcasting local government meetings on cable Channel 15 in January, El Paso's City Hall will take over and has big plans for a full-time government TV channel.

from: Light Reading

AT&T Confirms Second VRAD Fire AUGUST 24, 2007
The AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T - message board) investigation into an exploding VRAD cabinet may be over, but (sadly for my editors) the story lives on. (See AT&T: Defect Caused VRAD Explosion.) saveaccess's blog | read more ( categories: AT&T | TEXAS ) TX: Fire to the Node, AT$T Eyes Batteries in Telco Box Explosion Posted on August 12, 2007 - 9:29am. from: Light Reading AT&T Eyes Batteries in Explosion Probe AUGUST 10, 2007 AT&T Inc. says it isn't finished investigating what caused one of its broadband equipment cabinets to explode in suburban Houston last year. The explosion, first reported by Light Reading, occurred in the 8200 block of Clover Gardens Drive, outside the home of an elderly couple in late October. (See AT&T Investigates DSLAM Explosion and AT&T Still Digging on DBLAM!) saveaccess's blog | read more ( categories: AT&T | TEXAS ) TX: Buh-Bye Houston Media Source Posted on July 16, 2007 - 6:48am. from: Houston Art Blog buh-bye Apparently the city has no need for Houston Media Source anymore, last week the city decided to not renew their franchise contract. Under Texas' two and a half year-old statewide video franchise law, Comcast will be allowed to apply for a statewide franchise certificate, but they are not obligated to give any funds to public access. Bill White's Chief of Staff, Mr. Terrance Fountain, says the City will cut off all funding for Houston Media Source effective April 2008. saveaccess's blog | read more ( categories: State Franchises | TEXAS ) TX: Bundling Telecom Services May Not Always Save a Bundle Posted on June 5, 2007 - 8:00am. Note: More evidence of the 'triple ploy'. from: Houston Chronicle Bundling Telecom Services May Not Always Save a Bundle June 5, 2007 By Vicki Lee Parker Bundling is the buzzword in the telecom industry these days. Cable TV companies, phone companies and Internet providers want to sell us all sorts of services for one price. It’s a big price, but cheaper than paying for each separately, they tell us. saveaccess's blog | read more ( categories: AT&T | State Franchises | TEXAS ) TX: Cable cost eyes are on Texas Posted on June 2, 2007 - 11:45am. from: Capital Times Cable cost eyes are on Texas Jeff Richgels — 6/02/2007 3:23 am Competition from phone companies designed to be boosted by the nation's first state cable franchising law has not lowered cable TV prices in Texas but has provided consumers with a lower cost alternative, a study has found, Multichannel.com reported this week. saveaccess's blog | read more ( categories: State Franchises | TEXAS ) 1 2 3 next page last page		. 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