City Cable Franchise

VOTE NO on Bill S1531 H 3765

Submitted by mauro on June 11, 2009 - 10:45am.
in

A collective of Massachusetts public access communities are asking friends of Public Access to join us in opposition of Senate Bill # 1531, in house, H 3765, aka Verizon Bill. The bill is apparently a scam being spun as a boost for competition, when we see it as actually an attempt to give Verizon an edge over cable competitors. If successful the bill will place municipalities at a disadvantage when it comes to determining community media, technology and other franchise license related needs. Verizon tried to pass a similar bill before back in 2007, Worcester city council and administration, to their credit and wisdom, joined a large number of cities and citizens across the state in defeating it. Saving this municipality millions of dollars, local controls, senior discounts, locking out potential discriminatory "cherry picking" service practices and maintaining our Public Access as well. The right thing is to shoot this Senate Bill 1531, also known as the Verizon Bill, down immediately. To our Senate representatives we hope you do not fall asleep on this one

On July 22, 2009, there will be a public hearing at the State House on Senate Bill #1531. Join us in saying NO to this Bill.
Please contact your State Representatives and Senators and explain how this bill will adversely affect stations such as WCCA TV and therefore your community. This link should tell you who your local legislators are - http://www.mass.gov/legis/city_town.htm .

We hope our city council ( read more)

Charter files for bankruptcy

Submitted by mauro on February 13, 2009 - 11:10am.
in


According to THE ASSOCIATED PRESS article published in the Telegram today, as written Deborah Yao

Thomas P. Cohan,
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS of the company says "We‘re a healthy company and I think the bondholders realize that"

Apparently Charter Communications Inc., the nation’s fourth largest cable operator, which serves many Central Massachusetts residents, said yesterday that it plans to file a prearranged Chapter 11 bankruptcy by April 1.

The article seems to suggest that the company is running strong here in the nOrther East and it should have no impact on the company's capacity to meet franchise agreements obligations. It was reported that according to Thomas P. Cohan, Charter director of government relations, “This same group of bondholders is also going to invest another $3 billion in the form of new equity capital and debt refinancing.”

He is quoted to say that the bankruptcy “actually turns out to be a very good thing. Putting our debt aside, we’re a very strong company; we have about 5-1/2 million customers and cable is really a stable industry.”

Charter said fourth-quarter revenue is expected to increase by 6.6 percent to $1.66 billion, with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization up nearly 10 percent to $620 million.

related links

NATOA ANNOUNCES ADOPTION OF BROADBAND PRINCIPLES, PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVES AND ACTIONS

Submitted by mauro on July 19, 2008 - 10:22pm.
in

This is something many of us in the PEG community had been advocating for for years now. It is NOT too late.

Alexandria VA. (July 18, 2008) — The National Association of Telecommunications Officers & Advisors (NATOA) has adopted and released formal Broadband Principles encouraging the immediate development of a National Broadband Strategy. The ten Broadband Principles, created by a task force of NATOA members, outline the critical need for widespread deployment of next-generation broadband networks and necessary steps to achieve this goal:

* NATOA calls for the immediate nationwide deployment of advanced broadband networks.
* True broadband requires high capacity bandwidth in both directions.
* Fiber to the premises isthe preferred broadband option.
* High capacity broadband connectivity must be affordable and widely accessible.
* High capacity broadband requires open access networks.
* Network neutrality is vital to the future of the Internet.
* All networks and users have the right and obligation to non–discriminatory interconnection.
* Local governments must be involved to ensure that local needs and interests are met.
* Local governments must be allowed to build and operate broadband networks.
* A variety of options must be considered to cover deployment costs.

More

Syndicate content