State Laws/Franchising

House Lawmakers Critical of Frontline Wireless Plan

By: By Ted Hearn Jul 2 2007 - 6:46am

Reps.: ‘Yet Another Attempt to Get Valuable Spectrum on the Cheap’

Illinois Gov. Signs Franchise Law

By: By Linda Haugsted Jul 5 2007 - 4:20pm

Pay TV Providers May Apply for Statewide Franchises

Verizon Lawsuit Looms Over DTV Transition

By: By Ted Hearn Sep 13 2007 - 3:07pm

Washington – Verizon Wireless has gone to court seeking to overturn Federal Communications Commission rules for an upcoming auction that is expected to bring in at least $10 billion, $1.5 billion of which has been earmarked to help consumers purchase digital converters when analog TV shuts off in early 2009.

Cable Administrator Jane Lawton Dies at 63

By: By Linda Haugsted Nov 29 2007 - 3:22pm

Jane Lawton, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates and the cable administrator of Montgomery County, Maryland, died today (Nov. 29) in Washington D.C.

The 63-year-old county executive collapsed shortly after giving a presentation on cable competition at a U.S. Department of Justice-sponsored symposium on telecommunications. According to attendees, emergency responders labored to restart Lawton’s heart and respiration, but she died shortly after at a local hospital.

Rehr Critical Of Cable Lawsuit

By: By Ted Hearn Feb 6 2008 - 12:33pm

NAB President Critical ‘Disappointed” By Legal Action

House Aide: Bush Unlikely to Sign Franchise Law

By: By Ted Hearn Apr 25 2006 - 8:52am

Las Vegas -- Due to complications in the Senate and a short legislative calendar, an aide to House Energy and Commerce Committee member Paul Gillmor (R-Ohio) predicted Monday that cable-franchise-reform legislation will not reach the White House this year -- even though one month ago, committee chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas) was willing to bet that President Bush would sign a bill in the fall.

AT&T Files Four More Lawsuits

By: By Linda Haugsted May 4 2006 - 10:37am

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.

Law ‘Carves Out’ Santa Cruz

By: By Linda Haugsted Sep 1 2006 - 9:19am

While the new legislation in California will allow incumbent cable operators to seek state operating authority, one system won’t be filing anytime this decade.

That would be Charter Communications’ Santa Cruz County system.

Though not named in the newly passed legislation, specific terms in the bill target the system and prevent it from taking advantage of the new policy until July 2014.

Calif. Franchise Bill Becomes Law

By: By Linda Haugsted Oct 2 2006 - 10:11am

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a state franchising bill into law late last week, stating that the bill will "add another significant player into the cable-television marketplace and help to speed the spread of new and innovative technologies across the state.”

New entrants will now apply for a single statewide franchise, to be administered by the state Public Utilities Commission. Schwarzenegger signed the legislation Sept. 29.

California Signs New Statewide Law

By: By Linda Haugsted Oct 7 2006 - 12:00am

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the new statewide video franchising bill into law late last week, stating the legislation will “add another significant player into the cable television marketplace and help speed the spread of new and innovative technologies across the state.”

New entrants will now apply for a single statewide franchise, to be administered by the state Public Utilities Commission. He signed the bill on Sept. 29.

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