Save Access

from: The Tennessean

Players in cable fight make big donations to legislative campaigns

By THEO EMERY • Staff Writer • March 23, 2008

AT&T and the major cable companies poured campaign donations into the coffers of Tennessee lawmakers last year.

Most came in the last weeks of 2007, just before the fundraising cutoff at the January start of the legislative session. Under the state's 2-year-old ethics laws, lawmakers cannot raise money during the session.

from: The Tennessean

AT&T approached states after U.S. franchise failed
Bill would bypass local contracts

By THEO EMERY • Staff Writer • March 23, 2008

Tennessee's battle over cable franchising is not unique.

After an attempt to establish nationwide cable franchising failed, AT&T went to work in legislatures across the country to seek statewide access to cable markets, said Bob Williams, the director of HearUsNow.org, a Web site of the Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.

from: PC Magazine

Operational Funds, Debt Pay for AT&T Spectrum

03.21.08

by Chloe Albanesius

AT&T will be dipping into operational funds and accruing debt to pay off its recent spectrum purchases, according to government filings.

AT&T spent $6.6 billion to acquire 227 licenses in the Federal Communication Commission 's (FCC) 700 MHz spectrum auction, which ended Tuesday. The company already handed over a $500 million down payment prior to the start of the auction, but must pay an additional $827 million by April 3, according to paperwork filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

from: The Chattanoogan

City Council Moves Closer To Backing AT&T Bill
Littlefield Says He Welcomes Cable TV Competition
posted March 18, 2008

The City Council is moving closer to backing a bill sought by AT&T allowing it statewide franchise rights leading to development of a cable TV system.

from: Community Media Clippings

Video Clips of Connecticut Public Hearing on PEG Access TV
March 16, 2008
By

On March 7 Connecticut's Joint Committee on Energy & Technology held a 4-hour hearing on HB 5814, a bill to amend their recent statewide video franchising law. Connecticut PEG access advocates are asking to have two essential protections added:

from: Broadband Reports

U-Verse's Sorry Excuse For Public Access TV
CT's version of public access CSPAN a little annoyed....
Monday Mar 17 2008 by Karl

As Verizon and AT&T lobbyists worked to eliminate the local video franchise system, consumer advocates pointed out that such moves resulted in the death of public access.

from: Times Free Press

Commission hears cable competition proposal

By Holly Cowart
Community News Assistant Editor

Soddy-Daisy commissioners did not vote on a resolution supporting competition in the cable industry at their March 6 meeting, but expect to on March 20.

from: The Daily Journal

Kankakee County tuning in local TV
03/14/2008, 9:37 am

By John Stewart

Anybody can post a video on YouTube.com with a cheap Web cam and an even cheaper microphone.

But not everyone gets on television or can make a video that gets on television. That's because television still has a "mystique," according to Steve Bertrand, assistant director of the Kankakee Public Library.

from: Ridel Communications

Thursday, March 13, 2008
Union Made

There once was a union maid, she never was afraid
Of goons and ginks and company finks and the deputy sheriffs who made the raid.
She went to the union hall when a meeting it was called,
And when the Legion boys come 'round
She always stood her ground.