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Note: below are excerpts from the full bulletin

from: Mondaq News

United States: Communications Law Bulletin -- March, 2007

04 April 2007
Article by Charles H. Kennedy

The Month in Brief

Among other developments in the month of March, members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee held rescheduled oversight hearings of the Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC" or the "Commission"). This was the first time in four years that the full panel of FCC commissioners had appeared before Committee members, and Democratic members had harsh words for the Commission generally and Chairman Martin in particular.

From: The Business Ledger

‘Clash of Wills’ as AT&T Makes $4.6 Billion Cable Move

April 4, 2007

Promising increased competition and consumer advocacy, AT&T is investing $4.6 billion in a national move into the cable industry, yet many area municipalities have accused the telecommunications giant of pursuing anything but fair competition.

from: On Milwaukee

Video and cable debate heats up in Madison

By jfoust
Published April 2, 2007 at 3:17 p.m.

On March 27, 2007, a joint hearing took place at the Capitol to discuss a proposed "Video Competition" bill AB-207/SB-107. The hearing room overflowed with citizens deeply concerned about the threats posed by this bill. Most were associated with small-town "public access-governmental-educational" (PEG) channels. The proponents of the bill were associated with AT&T, their lobbyists, large business organizations like WMC, or the unions of workers who'd get the jobs associated with new video build-outs.

from: Dayton Politics

April 1, 2007
Jacobson Moves to Give AT&T Eminent Domain Powers

There’s finally a Legislative Reference Service bill analysis posted for Senate Bill 117, AT&T’s bill to eliminate local cable franchising in Ohio.

The bill substitutes a state-issued “Video Service Authorization”, or “VSA”, for local cable TV franchises. The LRS analysis says in paragraph four:

from: Springfield Business Journal

Gov. Blunt signs state video franchise bill
Springfield officials say bill will reduce city's franchise fee revenues by up to 20 percent

By Jeremy Elwood
Springfield Business Journal Staff
4/2/2007

The state of Missouri has weighed in on competition among cable providers.

Note: For over a year, Geneva, a small Illinois town of 19,000, has been fighting a pitched battle against the 240 billion dollar AT&T.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY WANTS EMINENT DOMAIN POWER OVER GENEVA PROPERTY OWNERS? saveaccess's blog | read more ( categories: AT&T | ILLINOIS | State Franchises ) TN: AT$T Limits Itself and Maligns Cities Posted on March 29, 2007 - 10:23am. from: Nashville Post AT&T Limits Itself and Maligns Cities From Nashville Post, March 27, 2007 By Milt Capps In remarks aimed at quashing legislation sought by AT&T, Tennessee Municipal League President Tommy Bragg, who is mayor of Murfreesboro, told the Tennessee House commerce committee this morning that as a result of recent action by the Federal Communications Commission, the relief sought by AT&T and resisted with increasing intensity by the state’s cities and counties “is, in fact, unnecessary.” saveaccess's blog | read more ( categories: AT&T | State Franchises | TENNESSEE ) WI: Legislature Holds Public Hearing on AT$T's Video Bill Posted on March 27, 2007 - 8:42pm. from: Waxing America Wisconsin Legislature Holds Public Hearing on AT&T's Video Bill March 27, 2007 The Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities and the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Commerce Utilities and Rail are holding a joint public hearing today (Tuesday) on AB/SB 207, the AT&T-backed, fast-tracked legislation that would create a new, almost entirely unregulated state-level franchise for video service and eliminate the current system of municipal cable franchises. We've bored you with the subject again and again and again. saveaccess's blog | read more ( categories: AT&T | State Franchises | WISCONSIN ) WI: Video competition bill draws mixed testimony Posted on March 27, 2007 - 8:14pm. from: Wisconsin Radio Network Video competition bill draws mixed testimony Tuesday, March 27, 2007, 5:41 PM By Andrew Beckett State lawmakers were faced with a wide variety of opinions Tuesday, on a proposal that would make it easier for video service providers to enter statewide markets. Nearly 75 people showed up to testify on the Video Competition Act before a joint legislative hearing. The act would allow providers to enter into a statewide video franchise agreement, instead of the current practice of negotiating with local governments. saveaccess's blog | read more ( categories: AT&T | State Franchises | WISCONSIN ) IL: City of Naperville Testifies Against HB1500 Posted on March 27, 2007 - 8:12pm. from: Business Wire City of Naperville Testifies Against Illinois House Bill 1500 March 27, 2007 05:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time House Telecommunications Committee Agrees to Amend Bill NAPERVILLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The City of Naperville continued its opposition to Illinois House Bill 1500, the Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007, through testimony before the House Telecommunications Committee on March 22. As a result, the Committee Chairman declared that HB 1500 will be amended. saveaccess's blog | read more ( categories: AT&T | ILLINOIS | State Franchises ) first page previous page ... 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 ... next page last page

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