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from: TMC net

Will New Cable Law in Florida Slash Costs?

TMCnet News
May 07, 2007

The Consumer Choice Act of 2007 is expected to make small, perhaps subtle changes in the law, which will allow more competition to enter the market and offer consumers greater choice and access to new technologies, at a lower cost. Indeed, technologies guided by law often become more affordable to consumers, as there is greater competition to offer higher quality products, but to offer them at a lower price. But, the new Consumer Choice Act will bring about a fundamental shift in the issuance of cable franchises in the state.

Subject: Write or Call the Gov Today-Save PEG and the First Amendment

note: Gov. Crist signed the bill May 18th - but write him anyway!

Please act on this today and then forward this email on to EVERYBODY you know.

from: MultiChannel News

Fla. Statewide-Franchise Bill Heads to Gov.
Assembly Follows Senate’s Lead, Passes Franchise-Reform Bill

By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 5/1/2007 2:23:00 PM

By a 117-2 vote, the Florida state Assembly concurred with the state's Senate, now sending a franchise-reform bill to Gov. Charlie Crist.

from: Boca Raton news

State to franchise cable TV; Boca doesn’t like it

Published Friday, May 4, 2007
by By Dale M. King

After spending years working on a master ordinance to regulate cable television franchises, it appears Boca Raton will have to put that law on the shelf.

from: Tampa Bay Community Network

Governor Crist, Veto This Bill!

Dear Friends of Tampa Bay Community Network, your public access cable television station:

Recently, we wrote you for help to persuade the Florida Senate to vote against Senate Bill 998. Unfortunately, the Senate passed and sent it back to the House. It has now become House Bill 529, carries the misnomer "Consumer Choice Act of 2007" and is even worse than the earlier versions.

The Florida bill de-funds and effectively ends PEG channel and facility support. The poor build-out and anti-red-lining provisions ensure that many communities will be left out and under-served. The telcos direct many of their lobby dollars and donations to minority organizations, as a result, the legislators below voted for a bill that will silence and disenfranchise their constituents - very sad.

from: Broadcasting & Cable

Armey Claims Florida Franchise Victory
By The Associated Press

(Broadcasting & Cable) _ Freedomworks, a lobby for smaller government and lower taxes backed by Forbes CEO Steve Forbes, is praising the Florida legislature for passing the Consumer Choice Act 117-2 this week, and giving itself a pat on the back too.

from: St. Petersburg Times

As cable TV bill heads to Crist, debate goes on

By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published May 1, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - The House cleared for Gov. Charlie Crist's signature on Monday a long-disputed bill that would open the cable TV market to fiber-optic telecommunications companies.

from: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

House adopts Senate bill to deregulate cable TV

By Josh Hafenbrack
Tallahassee Bureau

May 1, 2007

TALLAHASSEE · Fiercely fought legislation to drive more competition in Florida's cable TV markets now has one more stop: Gov. Charlie Crist.