I have not had time to study the new and improved "compromise" bill. Does it protect local control of rights of way? Does it prohibit cherry picking and require operators to build out into under served and economically disadvantaged areas? Does it protect local PEG and public cable access broadcasting?
Submitted by Mark Harmon on Sun, 03/09/2008 - 12:17.
The Curtiss/Burchett cable bills are in the not-as-egregiously-bad-as-the- original category. The new bill still does not require full build out (neighborhood cherry picking would be okay), has lots of incentives for existing franchisees to dump or not renew their local agreements and local franchise fees, but has some protections for access channels and against overt racial discrimination.
The better option, strengthening existing local franchise arrangements, is not on the table.
A quick check of the online campaign finance site shows from mid-2007 to present AT&T continues to pour dollars into campaign coffers statewide. Of local interest: $1000 to Jamie Woodson, $300 each to Park Strader and Joe Armstrong, and $200 each to Frank Niceley, Bill Dunn, Harry Brooks, and Harry Tindell.
The Ketron/McDaniel Bill is AT&T's bill: cherry pick neighborhoods, wipe out franchise fees, let cable companies usurp access channels if on any occasion they fall below eight original program hours a day.
The online records indicate State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) has received $4950 in AT&T PAC money since 2004, including a $1000 contribution this past Nov. 29th. Senator Douglas Jackson (D-Dickinson) also is sponsoring; he has netted $1800 from AT&T PACs, including a $1000 contribution on January 2nd.
House sponsors Rep. Steve McDaniel (R-Parkers Crossroads) and Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) have received AT&T PAC contributions totaling $2250 and $2050 respectively. The three other House sponsors (Reps. Cobb, McCord, and Watson) tally a combined $1850 in AT&T PAC contributions.
Incidentally, SEC records for 2006 (latest available) show AT&T's CEO Edward E. Whitacre's yearly compensation in excess of $60 million, and Comcast's CEO Brian L. Roberts in excess of $26 million.
The bill can be seen, in its entity here.
A line by line analysis, in Microsoft Blue with no white space can be found here.
Curtiss' bill is HB 3959. The one mentioned above, SB 1933, is quite different.
The Curtiss/Burchett cable bills are in the not-as-egregiously-bad-as-the- original category. The new bill still does not require full build out (neighborhood cherry picking would be okay), has lots of incentives for existing franchisees to dump or not renew their local agreements and local franchise fees, but has some protections for access channels and against overt racial discrimination.
The better option, strengthening existing local franchise arrangements, is not on the table.
A quick check of the online campaign finance site shows from mid-2007 to present AT&T continues to pour dollars into campaign coffers statewide. Of local interest: $1000 to Jamie Woodson, $300 each to Park Strader and Joe Armstrong, and $200 each to Frank Niceley, Bill Dunn, Harry Brooks, and Harry Tindell.
The Ketron/McDaniel Bill is AT&T's bill: cherry pick neighborhoods, wipe out franchise fees, let cable companies usurp access channels if on any occasion they fall below eight original program hours a day.
The online records indicate State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) has received $4950 in AT&T PAC money since 2004, including a $1000 contribution this past Nov. 29th. Senator Douglas Jackson (D-Dickinson) also is sponsoring; he has netted $1800 from AT&T PACs, including a $1000 contribution on January 2nd.
House sponsors Rep. Steve McDaniel (R-Parkers Crossroads) and Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) have received AT&T PAC contributions totaling $2250 and $2050 respectively. The three other House sponsors (Reps. Cobb, McCord, and Watson) tally a combined $1850 in AT&T PAC contributions.
Incidentally, SEC records for 2006 (latest available) show AT&T's CEO Edward E. Whitacre's yearly compensation in excess of $60 million, and Comcast's CEO Brian L. Roberts in excess of $26 million.
Mark Harmon
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