from: Boston Globe

Verizon suspends push for Mass. TV franchises
Firm criticizes licensing process

By Carolyn Y. Johnson, Globe Staff | April 18, 2007

After spending an average of 15 months in each of 45 communities to win approval to offer television service, Verizon Communications Inc. has had enough for now: The company says it will stop seeking new applications in Massachusetts until it finishes all pending projects.

Keep it Local MA

Local control over public access channels, rights of way, and equal access are in jeopardy thanks to phone companies' attempts to change the rules. They want to exclude you and your neighbors from the process.

Simply, the issue is local control of cable television by people who know you and your neighbors best. In Massachusetts, cities and towns decide what companies provide cable television to residents.

Note: TV4US is a notorious astroturf organization paid for by the telephone companies to build support for telco legislation.

from: Tampa Bay 10

Supporters of bill to create more competition for cable TV reveal plan

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Supporters of a bill that would make it easier for telephone companies to offer video services to Floridians distributed thousands of petitions in support of the plan to state lawmakers today.

from: CNET.com

Is cable in Verizon's crosshairs?

By Marguerite Reardon
Fri Apr 13 05:15:22 PDT 2007

A judge's broad interpretation of patents in Verizon's lawsuit against Internet telephony provider Vonage could give the phone company enough firepower to go after cable operators and other voice over Internet Protocol providers.

from: Telegram.com

Statewide cable franchising bad news

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

The current local cable franchise system doesn’t discourage competition or consumer choice. This 25-year-old system has worked well, and for many communities in eastern Massachusetts there has been competition between RCN and Comcast for some 10 years. Also, throughout all municipalities in the state there are two other competitors in the form of satellite TV providers — Dish Network and Direct TV. In many communities, Verizon is the fifth provider of multi-channel video services, as defined by the FCC.

from: CCTV

What You Can Do to Oppose the Verizon Bill

Last week, we wrote about a bill being considered on Beacon Hill that would change the way that cable franchising is done in the Commonwealth, You can read that story here http://www.cctvcambridge.org/node/1148.