Save Access

from: Colombia Missourian

Council to consider raising video franchise fee

By Emilie Rusch

August 31, 2007 | 5:36 p.m. CST

COLUMBIA — A proposed ordinance to raise the fee Columbia charges cable television providers to use public right-of-way could inject much needed funding into Columbia’s beleaguered public access channel.

from: Columbia Missourian

TV station tour meant to raise awareness of funding woes

By REGAN McTARSNEY

August 28, 2007 | 9:25 p.m. CST

COLUMBIA — In order to plead their case for funding, Columbia Access Television volunteers gave Columbia City Council members Jerry Wade, Karl Skala and Barbara Hoppe a tour of their facility on Tuesday night. The council is set to vote next week on a drafted ordinance that may determine Columbia Access Television (CAT TV) funding.

from: Columbia Trubune

Struggling access channel makes plea for help

By T.J. GREANEY of the Tribune’s staff
Published Wednesday, August 29, 2007

The clock is ticking on public access television in Columbia. Without help from city hall, televisions tuned to Columbia Access Television will go black in October.

from: Columbian Missourian

Columbia Access Television needs funds to stay on air

By ADAM DANIELS

July 11, 2007 | 12:00 a.m. CST

Columbia Access Television was launched in October 2004. But without a change in city policy, it will be off the air by the end of the year.

from: Southeast Missourian

Cable's future up for grabs in Cape
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
By TJ Greaney

Cable television in Southeast Missouri is about to change for good.

New legislation means competition is on the horizon for current monopoly-holder Charter Communications, while municipal oversight and funding for public access channels are both in jeopardy.

From: Columbia Tribune

City Fears Big Losses in Tax Cut

April 3, 2007
By Matthew LeBlanc

A proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution to limit how much cities can tax telephone companies would cost Columbia nearly $1 million annually, officials said.

House Joint Resolution 21 would send to voters a measure that prohibits cities from taxing phone companies more than they charge for business licenses.

from: Springfield Business Journal

Gov. Blunt signs state video franchise bill
Springfield officials say bill will reduce city's franchise fee revenues by up to 20 percent

By Jeremy Elwood
Springfield Business Journal Staff
4/2/2007

The state of Missouri has weighed in on competition among cable providers.

from: Belleville News Democrat

Blunt signs cable competition bill into law
DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Legislation intended to give Missourians a greater choice of television service providers was signed into law Thursday by Gov. Matt Blunt.

The new law will make it easier for traditional telephone companies such as AT&T Inc. to start offering video service over their fiber-optic wires in competition with existing cable TV companies.

from: MultiChannel News

Missouri Gov. Expected to Sign Franchise Bill

From Multichannel News, March 22, 2007
By Linda Haugsted

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt is expected to sign a bill that will assign video franchising authority to the state’s Public Service Commission.

from: MissouriNet

Video Franchise Bill Moves On Without Rural Provision
Tuesday, March 20, 2007, 5:41 PM
By Brent Martin

A bill that allows telephone companies to get into the cable TV business is on Governor Blunt's desk without a provision supporters touted as a way to bring high-tech to rural Missouri. Rep. Joe Aull (D-Marshall) has attempted to put back in a provision that would charge satellite providers a five percent franchise fee to fund technology grants toward rural economic development. Aull says rural Missouri is falling behind the more populated areas and needs to boost to stay competitive economically.