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from: SY-R.com

AT&T wins statewide franchise

By TIM LANDIS
BUSINESS EDITOR

Published Tuesday, October 30, 2007

A barely one-page finding from an administrative law judge could mean new consumer choices in cable and video early next year in Illinois — or, at least, that is how supporters of a cable-reform law hope it works out.

from: Gotham Gazette's TechNewsletter

Censored by Verizon

When NARAL Pro-Choice America applied to Verizon Wireless for a code so it could send text messages to Verizon subscribers who wanted to receive them, the organization never expected that the wireless provider would deny its request. AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint, which share almost the entire U.S. market with Verizon, had shown no hesitation signing NARAL up for the five-digit "short code."

from: Hartford Business

EDITORIAL
Scrambled Signals

10/29/07

It’s always enlightening to see who owns what. Jay Leno owns several dozen fancy cars. Rupert Murdoch is about to own the Wall Street Journal. And AT&T, it seems, owns Connecticut’s top elected officials.

AT&T wants to make a bundle of money on a service that delivers television via the Internet, all over AT&T’s existing copper phone lines. The service is called U-verse. It’s supposed to be a competitive product to existing cable television.

from: Republican American

U-verse TV battle moves to state court

BY DAVID KRECHEVSKY REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

HARTFORD — The fate of AT&T's U-verse television service now rests with a state superior court judge.

Judge Robert F. McWeeny conducted a hearing Friday before a packed house in Hartford Superior Court on a request from AT&T Inc. to overturn a ruling by state regulators that requires the company to seek a cable TV franchise license for U-verse.

from: Capital Times

AT&T loses bid for TV service

Jeff Richgels — 10/25/2007 10:10 am

AT&T has been handed another defeat in its efforts to offer its U-verse TV service in Connecticut without a cable franchise -- a situation with potential implications for other states, including Wisconsin.

A bill introduced in Wisconsin would provide for statewide cable franchising but has run into strong opposition. AT&T moved forward with U-verse in Milwaukee without a franchise, was sued for that move by the city, then made an interim agreement with the city pending outcome of the case or the franchising legislation.

from: Tennessean

AT&T Wants a Dodge Despite Allowances for Franchising in Tennessee

October 26, 2007
By Stacey Briggs

Cities and counties across Tennessee, particularly Nashville, have rolled out the red carpet for AT&T, inviting the company to begin the application process for a local franchise to provide competitive television services in this market.

Note: Tennessee faces another round of industry lobbying and propaganda.

from: The Tennessean

Franchise reform works in other states
Thursday, 10/25/07

By GREGG MORTON

I enjoy a good debate, and the Tennessee General Assembly has participated in a lively debate on the future of consumer access to advanced communication services in our state.

from: Tennessean

Consumers have best chance with statewide video franchise
Today's Topic: Sabers rattle over video rights
Thursday, 10/25/07

Our View

As long as Tennessee legislators focus on what's best for consumers, they will be on the right track if and when a renewed battle between AT&T and cable operators erupts next year.

from: Hartford Courant

Connecticut Attorney General Shifts Stance on AT&T TV Service

October 24, 2007
By Mark Peters

After winning a months-long battle that ended with a prohibition against AT&T’s signing up new customers for its TV service, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal on Tuesday said the phone giant should be allowed to resume marketing the service.

from: Business Week

Get Your Hands Off the Web
Interference in Web content by AT&T and Verizon shows that more regulation is needed

by Stephen H. Wildstrom

A bit over a year ago, I wrote a column arguing that innovation on the Internet would be best served if the government mostly kept its hands off. I've changed my mind. The behavior of the top telecommunications companies, especially Verizon Communications (VZ) and AT&T (T), has convinced me that more government involvement is needed to keep communications free of corporate interference.