Dingell Quizzes AT&T on Franchise Law

DINGELL QUIZZES AT&T ON FRANCHISE LAW
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich) is questioning whether AT&T needs a federal video-franchising law when the company is insisting that its Project Lightspeed video service relies on a technology exempt from all traditional cable rules, including local franchising. Rep Dingell, the top Democrat on the House Commerce Committee, expressed his concerns in a letter Wednesday to AT&T Chairman and CEO Edward Whitacre. Rep Dingell is expected to attend a House subcommittee hearing Thursday on the franchising bill. “It is unclear why it makes sense for the committee on Energy and Commerce to consider legislation to streamline the cable-franchise process when companies can define themselves out of the process,” Rep Dingell wrote. “The committee clearly needs to receive information sufficient to evaluate whether the Communications Act definitions should be updated so that companies that offer IP-video services can benefit from the national cable franchising.”
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6320114.html?display=Breaking+News

* Project Lights Out
[SOURCE: Bunnie Riedel]
[Commentary] Riedel wonders why AT&T has to completely disintegrate local government franchising so they can roll out a product that is already obsolete before they've thrown their first switch?
www.riedelcommunications.blogspot.com

* AT&T COO: Lightspeed Capacity Not an Issue
http://www.ipdemocracy.com/archives/001347att_coo_lightspeed_capacity_no...