video franchising

Verizon Threatens Massachusetts

Stevie Converse — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:32:11 -0400

Full article: Broadband Reports
Karl Bode
AT&T and Verizon have lobbied hard to pass laws that are little more than rubber-stamped wish lists for the carriers that erode eminent domain rights, strip all authority from local government, eliminate consumer protections and gut public access funding. And now the telecom giants have Massachusetts in their sites.

Creation of State Cable Franchising Authority Hasn't Lived Up to Hype

Stevie Converse — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:49:27 -0500

Full article: Athens Banner-Herald
Don Nelson
When the Georgia General Assembly approved cable franchising legislation in 2007, politicians and lobbyists touted the law as a means to increase cable service competition in the state. However, 18 months after the law was signed, little competition has emerged, and rates for basic cable programming have continued to rise.

Wisconsin Realizes Franchise 'Reform' Was a Con

Stevie Converse — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:54:43 -0500

Full article: Broadband Reports
Karl Bode
With TV rates skyrocketing, Wisconsin is the latest to notice that the franchise "reform" bill they were sold didn't actually do anything for consumers that the old system didn't.

Stop the Box

Stevie Converse — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:17:14 -0400

Full article: MediaGeek
Residents of Evanston, Ill., are angry about a consequence of the state's video franchise law: AT&T's large and loud refrigerator-sized utility boxes now sitting on their properties. A new coalition is pressing for changes in the law.

Local Governments and Media Organizations Challenge Court’s Ruling

Stevie Converse — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:47:00 -0400

Full article: NATOA
The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors have joined with the Alliance for Community Media and the Alliance for Communications Democracy in filing a petition for an en banc hearing on an appeal to the FCC's video franchising decision.

The Bottom Line

Stevie Converse — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:20:23 -0400

Full article: Telecommunications Consulting
Bunnie Riedel
The latest AT&T ploy is to present a "contract" to each local community or access facility in which they agree to carry the PEG channel -- and then charge the subscriber for the cost of the transmission.

Unscripted Ending

Stevie Converse — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:52:26 -0400

Full article: Governing
Josh Goodman
Public access TV, a product of a longstanding if uneasy partnership between local governments and cable companies, now faces a more uncertain future than at any time since its inception in the 1970s.

Cable Franchising Bills No Help to Consumers, Says Survey

Stevie Converse — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:19:27 -0400

Full article: Multichannel News
Linda Haugsted
State cable franchising bills have not led to lower cable rates, and support for public access channels has eroded in those states with such schemes, according to a new survey.

New York FiOS Deal Approval Expected Soon

Stevie Converse — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:34:51 -0400

Full article: PC Magazine
Chloe Albanesius
Verizon expects New York City officials to approve its FiOS cable franchising deal by next month, a top executive said.

AT&T Access Plan Challenged

Stevie Converse — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:40:33 -0400

Full article: Community Media Workshop
Curtis Black
AT&T's plan for public access on its U-verse video service -- which the company calls "innovative" and critics call inadequate -- is being challenged in Illinois.