Upton Counts Enough Votes To OK Franchise Bill

UPTON COUNTS ENOUGH VOTES TO OK FRANCHISE BILL
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
In an interview with C-Span, House Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) said his panel will begin a mark-up of a national video franchising bill on Tuesday at 5pm, moving toward a consideration of amendments and final vote on the legislation on April 5. The full Commerce Committee would then consider the bill after the Easter break. Even without support of top Democrats on the Commerce Committee, Rep Upton said he thought the bill would still pass out of subcommittee and committee, and said, "I suspect that we have way more than enough votes to pass it with a decent margin on the House floor, and I suspect we will get there by May." He added that both telephone and cable companies are close to endorsing the bill.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6321103?display=Breaking+News

* Franchise Bill To Get Stronger 'Anti-Red Lining' Language
Maybe Rep Bobby Rush (D-IL) is crazy like a fox. According to House Telecom Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton, Rep Rush and Rep Albert Wynn (D-MD) are working together on strong language to add to the national franchise bill to insure against "red lining" -- not providing service to less lucrative customers, often rural or poorer areas. Chairman Upton said he and others on the committee will be able to support the language when the bill is marked up on Wednesday.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6321147?display=Breaking+News

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http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6321107?display=Breaking+News

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http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6321201?display=News

* Barton: Bush Will OK National Franchising
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6321256.html?display=Top+Stories

* Rep. Joe Barton and Co. destroy “Community Communications”
http://www.democraticmedia.org/jcblog/?p=15

* USTA’s “TV Freedom”: You Can Fool Almost All the Politicians All of the Time
http://www.democraticmedia.org/jcblog/?p=17

* Following the money on the net neutrality issue: meet Joe Barton's friend$$
http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=1000

* Voices From Everywhere On The Barton Bill
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6321222.html?display=Opinion