Save Access

from: Citizen Tribune

AT&T still trying to get connected

House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh took offense at Gov. Phil Bredesen’s recent criticism of his attempt to broker a cable bill in the Legislature by forcing a back-room compromise between Tennessee’s existing cable industry and AT&T, which is trying — for the second year — to break into the broadband cable and Internet market in Tennessee.

Note: See follow up below by Light Reading, NAREB has since backed down.

from: MultiChannel News

Real Estate Group Puts U-Verse Under Fire
NAREB Asks AGs To Investigate Fires Related To AT&T Equipment
By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 2/15/2008 12:52:00 PM

from: SaveAccess Texas

This Could Be The End of Public Access in Austin...
Submitted by savetexasaccess on Fri, 2008-02-15 19:03.

. . . if Time Warner successfully sues to get out of the franchise agreement with the City.

The following article “Court allows Texas Cable Industry to Challenge State Law” appeared in last week’s Austin American Statesman (Feb. 8, 2008).

from: Detroit Free Press

State cable TV law needs a tune-up

The end of analog TV signals a year from now is shaking up viewers in more ways than one. The biggest impact will fall on those with old, non-digital sets who get their signals over the air. Their TVs will simply not show a picture next year unless they get a converter box.

from: Midpeninsula Community Media Center

See source above for video links

Friday, February 8, 2008
ED Annie Folger Preserving Public Access in Washington DC

The Media Center's Executive Director, Annie Folger, recently flew out to Washington DC to speak in front of Congress, representing the Alliance for Community Media. She was fighting for Comcast and AT&T to continue to providing PEG (Public, Educational and Government) services as they currently are (or better) and to abide by local, state, and federal laws.

from: Michigan State University

Competititon for Video Services Developing Very Slowly in Michigan

02/15/08
State News, Communications

A report released Feb. 1 by state regulators indicates slightly growing competition among providers of video services, including cable TV companies and telecommunications firms.

from: News Advance

Hope may be dimming for public access TV
by Alicia Petska
News Advance (VA)O
02/13/08

The possibility of lending city support to Lynchburg’s public access station is still on the table, although City Council unanimously approved a contract that could have the channel off the air as early as this week. On Wednesday, Ward II Councilman Ceasor Johnson said he was willing to champion community television’s cause during this year’s budget hearings if there was interest in keeping the programming.

from: Mlive.com

Let the cable wars begin: AT&T takes on Comcast
Posted by Tom Gantert | The Ann Arbor News February 18, 2008 10:39AM
By TOM GANTERT
The Ann Arbor News

For 17 years, Annisa Bowden of Ann Arbor watched cable television on Comcast.

She never thought it was that good of a deal, but shied away from satellite because of reception concerns during inclement weather.

from: Columbia City Paper

Is Public TV In Peril?
By Todd Morehead
February 14 12:35 PM

One year from now, television as we know it will change forever. For those who haven’t yet purchased a converter box, are not cable subscribers or don’t have a compatible TV, the screen will go dark on Feb. 17, 2009 as the industry switches from broadcasting a traditional analog signal to a digital one. The “DTV switch,” as it has come to be known, will not only facilitate the continued progression toward high definition systems but will also free up the 700 MHz spectrum for the creation of more standardized public safety communications. In the background, the FCC has plans to auction a chunk of that vacated analog spectrum to large wireless and telecom companies like Verizon and Google. Some analysts predict the sale could fetch up to $15 billion dollars. Meanwhile, many Democrats on Capitol Hill worry that an unprepared and under funded FCC has not adequately educated the general public about the DTV switch.

from: The Tennessen

AT&T video debate heats up
Company wants TV franchise that lets it bypass areas
By NAOMI SNYDER • Staff Writer • February 17, 2008

A key point in a contentious debate in the General Assembly revolves around who will get AT&T's new TV service.

It has been rolled out in parts of 12 states, but not yet in Tennessee as a legislative battle over licensing rules plays out in the General Assembly. The cable industry wants to force AT&T to build out to a significant part of the state's population, following longtime local rules where cable companies typically must serve nearly every home in a county.