Save Access

From: IL Daily Herald

'Astroturf' groups represent industries, not members

By Anna Marie Kukec
Daily Herald Business Writer
Posted Sunday, February 11, 2007

A group called TV4US Coalition placed advertising inserts in newspapers statewide last week aiming to “educate” consumers on how to get better, more competitive rates for television in Illinois.

from: Schaumburg Review

Community TV: If cable changes, what would happen to public programming?

January 25, 2007
By PATRICK CORCORAN Staff Writer

Public access television providers are worried they'll be lost in the shuffle stemming from AT&T's video network proposal.

from: Chicago Tribune

INSIDE TECHNOLOGY
AT&T laying low in bid to launch video services

By Jon Van
Published February 5, 2007

AT&T Illinois is keen to launch video services over its wireline network, but the company is uncharacteristically coy about how it plans to do so.

My Times

Grassroots group or Astroturf?

Comment on this story
STEPHANIE SIEVERS, sng2@springnet1.com, 217-524-5797

SPRINGFIELD -- They are so-called grassroots groups that appear to champion causes important to the "ordinary Joe" such as lower cable rates, reliable electricity and accessible health care.

Note: AT&T has been suing many Illinois Communities over the franchise process and telco box placement. Their behavior is that of a 200 billion dollar thug.

Past articles on AT&T lawsuits in Illinois:

from: Telecom Web

Cities Slap Telcos Over Franchise Procedures

To hear some municipal officials tell it, AT&T and heavyweight cousin Verizon Communications are employing hardball tactics in their quests for video franchises.

"We believe AT&T was trying to create an appearance of negotiation breakdown, to establish a record in support of statewide [and national] franchise law," says Peter Burchard, city manager of Naperville, Ill., where AT&T recently scrapped plans to deploy "Project Lightspeed" on claims the city council inserted a poison pill (i.e., buildouts) in its franchise proposal (Telecom Policy Report, Aug. 18). Adds sister publication CableFAX Daily, the telco already is knee-deep in a dispute with seven nearby municipalities over their collective moratoria on the issuance of construction permits for its video service. AT&T spokesman Rob Biederman refused to comment on the litigious debate, and repeated calls to additional execs went unanswered.

from: Chicago Tribune

Naperville's AT&T video deal collapses
Communications firm rejects plan city OKd

By Andrew L. Wang and Jennifer Taylor, Chicago Tribune. Andrew L. Wang is a Tribune staff reporter. Jennifer Taylor is a freelance reporter

August 18, 2006

Naperville officials say AT&T may have deliberately soured a video services deal with the city as part of a strategy to show federal lawmakers that it's not feasible to sign agreements with each locality, as cable companies must do.

from: Broadband Reports Please see the source for links to supporting documents. The recent AT&T lawsuits trace back to a history (since 2003) of SBC/AT&T fighting the city over their attempts to offer municipal broadband. Apparently this huge corporation hold nasty grudges.

Interview: Fighting AT&T
Peter Collins, IS Manager for Geneva, Illinois

Here at saveaccess.org we just came upon this page of the City of Geneva, Illinois. We encourage you to visit their site (they have compelling documents and 'actual' pictures of telco box installations). The city is being sued by AT&T for establishing a moratorium so there would be adequate time to assess the issue. Please go to:
http://www.geneva.il.us/att/Lightspeed.htm

From MultiChannel News

AT&T Files More Lawsuits Against Ill. Towns
From Multichannel News, May 4, 2006
By Linda Haugsted

Four more Chicago suburbs were sued by AT&T Inc. for delaying plant improvements that will lead to a launch later of the telephone company’s video service.

The new defendants are Itasca, North Aurora, Wood Dale and Geneva. Suits were filed against the Illinois communities May 2 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Previously, AT&T sued the communities of Carpentersville, Roselle and Wheaton, Ill., as well as two communities in California.