Save Access

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: Scripps News

Nevada Sen. Ensign becomes GOP tech star

By LISA MASCARO

Nevada Sen. John Ensign's handiwork can be seen all over the Senate's 2006 telecom bill, the biggest overhaul to telecommunications law in a decade and one that has ignited fierce debate over how best to govern the future of the Internet.

From one of our favorite astroturf installers, Dick Armey of FreedomWorks. Strange times when the Freemarket Rightwingers beat up on the Christian Right

from: CNET News

Net ignorance of the Christian Coalition

By Dick Armey
http://news.com.com/Net+ignorance+of+the+Christian+Coalition/2010-1028_3-6094235.html

from: Broadcasting and Cable

Technologists Tackle Net Neutrality

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable,
7/17/2006 1:36:00 PM

It might have been subtitled "The Impossible Dream."

Two voices of Internet experience squared off Monday looking to answer the $1 million-a-day-question--What is Net Neutrality? At the end of the day, the answer was still not clear, but the question engendered some lively debate, plus yet another shot at Senator Ted Stevens' "tubes" explanation of the Internet.

from: MultiChannel News

Bass Aide: No Telecom Bill in 2006
By Ted Hearn7/11/2006 7:30:00 PM

Newport, R.I. -- Sharp policy disputes and election-year time constraints mean that a major telecommunications bill will not pass Congress in 2006, an aide to Rep. Charles Bass (R-N.H.) said Tuesday.

From: Free Press: See the Senate Map

MediaCitizen by Timothy Karr

Senator Stevens' Bill to Nowhere

Stevens' bill is the Senator's wink to AT&T, Verizon and Comcast. For the rest of us, it's his bill to nowhere. It needs to be overhauled, or stopped dead in its tracks.

SavetheInternet.com today launched our Senate Map, which tracks where all 100 senators stand on Internet freedom.

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.

Note: Even more interesting is that Sen. Stevens is retiring after this term of office. One wonders what all these campaign contributions are for?

from: MediaPost

Special Report

Does Rupert Murdoch's DIRECTV Own Sen. Ted Stevens?
The powerful lawmaker pushes for an anti-cable TV provision after being showered with oddly timed campaign contributions from Murdoch employees.