Tennessee

Tennessee Waltz

Stevie Converse — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:39:58 -0700

It’s every woman’s nightmare. You take your sweetheart to a dance and your best friend dances off with him. Sure it feels like betrayal, but they couldn’t help themselves, they fell in love with each other while they were dancing. Nothing personal, mind you, nothing personal.

AT&T Legislation Could See Fast Track in Tennessee

Stevie Converse — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:45:25 -0700

A bill that would allow AT&T to offer TV service statewide could be passed before the end of April, according to state officials.

Cable Bill Compromise Passes Committee in Tennessee

Stevie Converse — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:42:24 -0700

Compromise legislation that seeks to provide statewide cable TV franchising is moving in the Tennessee House with little debate.

Tennessee Franchising Bill Aims to Extend Broadband Services

Holiday Shapiro — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 07:07:56 -0700

Legislators in Tennessee have been presented a new version of a state franchising bill with a unique scheme to incent new providers to extend broadband services. The bill language, which has been the subject of negotiations among effected industries, contains broad build-out language. Large telephone companies that become video providers must deliver that service to 30% of their existing service area within 3 1/2 years.

Germantown Leads Push for Low-Power FM in Safety

Stevie Converse — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:17:02 -0700

When the "Hurricane Elvis" windstorm of 2003 left some Germantown residents in the dark for days, a radio station programmed by city government could have kept them informed.

"We wanted to advise people on what they needed to do to get downed trees, trash and debris to streets," said Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy.

"At some points, we've actually sent post cards to everybody," Goldsworthy said.

Tennessee Legislators Say Bill Sought by AT&T Finally Ready

Stevie Converse — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:36:12 -0700

Legislative leaders said they have finally reached agreement on a statewide franchise bill sought by AT&T that is expected to result in a new cable TV option for Chattanooga residents and others throughout Tennessee.

Announcement of Cable/AT&T Deal Set for Monday

Stevie Converse — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:33:52 -0700

Leading lawmakers in the cable/AT&T negotiations over statewide franchising will roll out their compromise legislation Monday in a press conference, the House Democratic Caucus announced today.

Deal Is Near on AT&T's Statewide Cable Plans in Tennessee

Stevie Converse — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:55:56 -0700

Lawmakers expect to unveil compromise legislation on Monday that would permit AT&T to offer its television services statewide, capping months of closed-door talks between feuding sides of the telecommunications industry.

Tennessee Legislature to Consider Cable TV Compromise

Stevie Converse — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:20:17 -0700

Tennessee lawmakers are expected to present compromise legislation on Monday that would create a statewide system for permitting cable TV franchises. The measure is supported by AT&T Inc., which wants to avoid having to seek hundreds of municipal permits as it enters the cable TV business.

Tennessee Lawmakers & Telcos Continue Behind Closed Doors

Stevie Converse — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:04:42 -0700

State lawmakers are close to passing a bill to give consumers more choices for cable television providers. Last year, AT&T tried to enter the Tennessee market. There was a lot of resistance from the cable industry, which didn't want the phone company to just come in and do business wherever they wanted.

Ethics Opinions Find Two Lobbying Violations

Stevie Converse — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:03:27 -0700

State lobbying rules may have been violated in two high-profile legislative fights, one over Internet wine sales and the other over cable television regulation, according to the Tennessee Ethics Commission.

AT&T, Cable Crafting Compromise

Stevie Converse — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:47:32 -0700

Lengthy negotiations between AT&T, the cable industry and local governments over AT&T’s bid to offer television services in Tennessee are close to complete, and the final product may cause a first for the telecom giant in the southeast.

Insiders Enlisted in Back-Room Cable War in Tennessee

Stevie Converse — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:52:41 -0700

A small group of lobbyists gathers outside the office of House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh each week, checking BlackBerries and chatting as they wait to be invited through the doors of the speaker's office and into a conference room in the back. The subject of those meetings is an issue that could touch every corner of the state: whether telephone giant AT&T will receive statewide permission to offer television service in competition with cable companies like Comcast and Charter, and how widely available AT&T's service will be.

Players in Cable Fight Make Big Donations to Legislative Campaigns

Stevie Converse — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 04:43:33 -0700

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.

City Council Moves Closer To Backing AT&T Bill

Stevie Converse — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:54:57 -0700

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.

The council heard an endorsement from Mayor Ron Littlefield, then directed that a resolution of support be prepared for later action.

Mayor Littlefield said some concerns he had about the bill appear to be cleared up.

CBS Forces Local News Off The Air

Josh Stearns — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:11:00 -0800

When you think of morning "news" shows you usually think of The Today Show (NBC) or Good Morning America (ABC). CBS also has a morning show but it has flowndered in thrid place for a long time. The network recently hired a new producer and a new anchor to relaunch the morning show. However, this investment came with a hidden cost.

Support of Affordable High Speed Internet for America and Internet Neutrality

ProgRock — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:24:00 -0700

Democrats,

On July 15th, 2007 the Executive Board of the California Democratic Party passed the following resolution in favor of Net Neutrality and affordable high speed Internet for America.

The adoption of this resolution was made possible by the unprecedented cooperation of both the Labor Caucus and the Progressive Caucus of the CDP. Working together over the months following the CDP convention in San Diego, representatives of both caucuses, led by Jim Gordon, chair of the Labor Caucus and Brad Parker, officer of the Progressive Caucus, were able to craft a resolution that addressed the concerns of both groups and Americans as a whole. Once again, after 100 years of organizing and political activism, Progressives and Union members have found common cause. Our hope is that this resolution will become a blueprint for legislation across the country that preserves Internet integrity with open, equal and impartial access and Net Neutrality. Further, that the build out of high speed Internet be undertaken as a public utility maintained by union members bringing affordable broadband Internet access to all Americans.

No issue of public governance is more critical at this time in our history than the immediate need for every level of government to pass and enforce legislation to embody the principles of this resolution. Therefore, we call upon every Democrat in America to send this resolution to every elected official across the nation and to insist that Net Neutrality and affordable high speed Internet become the law of the land.

Don't Tune Us Out: Support Local Radio

Ira Horowitz — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 07:34:00 -0700

Yesterday's Nashville Tennessean features several articles on the importance of Low Power FM (LPFM) radio for local communities:

Editorial: Legislation would restore radio's community presence http://www.freepress.net/news/25674
Ginny Welsch: Local issues shouldn't be shut out in process http://www.freepress.net/news/25675
Joseph Torres: Congress should help unique local stations http://www.freepress.net/news/25676