Current issue: Spring 2008
Previous Issues:
Fall 2007, Spring 2007
Fall 2006, Spring 2006
Fall 2005, Spring 2005
Fall 2004, Summer 2004, Spring 2004
Fall 2003, Summer 2003, Spring 2003
News Bulletins
6/23/2008 - NATOA 2008 Programming Awards Finalists Include Texas Cities
The list of Texas finalists in the NATOA 2008 Government Programming Awards can be found here.
2/4/2008 - TATOA Writes Tennessee About State Franchising
Addressing Tenessee's proposed state-issued franchise legislation, TATOA President Margaret Somereve seeks to correct "some popular misconceptions about our experience in the Lone Star State." Click here to see the letter.
1/4/2008 - TATOA West Texas Regional Conference in February
Come join us next month for the TATOA West Texas Regional Conference in Lubbock where you’ll gain great ideas for your PEG channel. The interactive sessions will include programming ideas for smaller staffs, how to market your channel, what the digital transition means for cities and relationships with cable providers.
The conference is set for Friday, February 8th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lubbock City Hall, located at 1625 13th Street in downtown Lubbock. The regional conference is free and lunch is included. If you would like to attend, R.S.V.P. by January 15th by e-mailing TATOA West Region Representative Jeff McKito at jmckito@mylubbock.us or calling (806) 775-3268. We hope to see you in Lubbock in February!
10/29/2007 - National Listserve Now Open to TATOA Programmers
TATOA has worked out an agreement with SCAN NATOA (Southern California and Nevada Chapter) for our members to join the Comet Network listserve for free. This is exclusively for programmers maintained by SCAN NATOA. Once you sign up at the link below, you can submit an email that will reach government access programmers all over the country about anything related to programming from software recommendations and video production tips to programming ideas and equipment purchases.
All TATOA programmers are encouraged to utilize this useful resource. Special thanks to SCAN NATOA for their generosity.
Here's the link: http://www.scannatoa.org/Comet/listserve.html
2/6/2007 - ACM Southwest Region Meeting in Austin, Feb. 11 & 12
PEG Access Managers in Texas planning to attend the Alliance for Community Media Southwest Region Meeting in Austin, Feb. 11 & 12 should RSVP soon to susanh@pactaustin.org. The meeting agenda is available here.
Also invited to speak is Joe Van Eaton, attorney with Miller & Van Eaton, who has represented both the “P” and “G” in PEG access. He provides legal counsel for municipalities and has served on the Board of the Alliance for Community Media.
ACM Executive Director Tony Riddle is also expected to be joining the procedings via conference call.
Several industry lobbyists will offer their take on the Texas legislature with respect to telco and cable issues in this session.
From Texas, there will be PEG representation from Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin and smaller communities, like Bastrop and Sherman.
The Alliance for Community Media is a national organization that represents Public, Educational, and Government access interests.
More details are at http://www.alliancecm.org, or from the conference hosts. Contact:
Stefan Wray
Communications Director
Public Access Community Television (PACT)
1143 Northwestern Ave
Austin TX. 78702
512-478-8600, Ext 13
stefanw AT pactaustin DOT org
www.pactaustin.org
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1/23/2007 - TATOA Makes Donation to NATOA
TATOA recently contributed $1000 to NATOA in support of efforts being made on the FCC franchise issues. We received a handwritten thank-you note from Executive Director Elizabeth Beaty.
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1/15/2007 - Ballots Due for TATOA Elections
Read more about the nominees here.
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10/26/2006 - NATOA Distributes Membership Literature
As part of its current membership drive, NATOA has put together a one-leaf flyer telling its story and highlighting membership benefits for potential members. The flyer can be seen here. A more detailed brochure is also in the works and will be available soon. For additional information, visit the NATOA website.
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8/29/2006 - Texas Cities Win NATOA Programming Awards
Seven Texas city organizations walked away with a total of 19 government access programming awards in the recent NATOA competition. Top Texas winners were Allen and Richardson, with four awards each. See the whole list here.
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2/24/2006 - Mayor Moncrief Addresses FCC
At the FCC hearing in Keller, Texas on February 10 of this year, Fort Worth mayor Mike Moncrief offered testimony on cable franchising and the recently-passed Texas Senate bill SB5.
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12/05/2005 - Federal Telecom Reform Resolution
The City of Farmers Branch passed a resolution today urging the U.S. Congress to consider several principles in reforming the 1996 Telecommunications Act. These included maintaining local authority and preserving PEG programming.
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12/01/2005 - Associations Write Congress about BITS II
Several national associations have sent a letter to the House Energy Commerce Committee leadership about the November 9th hearing on draft legislation to create a statutory framework for Internet Protocol and Broadband Services.
The measure, known as "BITS II," has caused some concern among local governments, and the letter made specific recommendations to the committee. The points raised by the letter concern maintaining local government control over the public rights-of-way.
The associations sponsoring the letter included The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA), the National League of Cities, and the United States Conference of Mayors.
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10/31/2005 - ACM Declares a "Snow Day"
The Alliance for Community Media (ACM) has called for a "snowstorm" on November 7th as Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) channels on cable systems nationwide simultaneously show one minute of video snow. Snowstorm! is an action to organize grassroots support among PEG producers and viewers. The action is meant to remind communities what could be lost if new cable legislation before Congress is not fixed to protect community channels. More here...
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9/29/2005 - NATOA Weighs in on Federal Telecom Bills
Proposed revisions to the federal Communications Act would have far-reaching effects on telecommunications and regulatory policy, particularly in the area of local control. NATOA's policy statement examines the issues, as well as particular concerns with the Video Choice Act and the Broadband Investment and Consumer Choice Act.
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9/7/2005 - Telecom Bill Signed Into Law
SB 5 (Telecom/Cable bill) was signed into law by Governor Perry today.
The bill is effective immediately.
A summary of the bill can be found in the latest edition of the TML
Legislative Update. A section by section summary is also available
here.
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8/1/2005 - ACM Targets National Video Legislation
Anthony Riddle of the Alliance for Community Media is circulating this letter:
Dear Supporter of Community Media,
Attached is the letter the Alliance for Community Media is sending to members of Congress regarding Senate bills 1504 and 1349, and House bill 3146.
We have chosen to address all three bills at once as they have many characteristics in common.
Please make appointments to speak with your elected officials in August, while the congressional delegation is at the home office. Also, take the time to speak with your City Councils and City Administrators to make sure that they understand how much is at stake.
For now, talking points can be developed by following the points in bold.
Please let me know if you need to develop more targeted letters from this one.
Sincerely,
Anthony Riddle
Anthony T. Riddle
Alliance for Community Media
666 11th Street NW, Suite 740 Washington, DC 20001
202.393.2650 p, 202.393.2653 f
http://www.alliancecm.org
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7/21/2005 - Telecom Bills Introduced in Special Session
Two bills, SB5 and HB13, were introduced in the second special session to make another attempt at a statewide franchise.
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7/14/2005 - Senate Passes HB21
The Texas Senate has passed HB21, telecom legislation that was on the Special Session's agenda. The measure will now go to the House.
According to Legislative Budget Board, it's likely that the bill will be heard in committee on the House side upon adjournment of the full House TODAY. The House will convene at 1:00 p.m.
The mayors of eight major Texas cities have sent a letter
to Chairman Fraser expressing their opposition to the bill in its
current form.
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6/1/2005 - Telecom Bills Dead
Telecom bills HB789 and HB3179 did not survive the recent legislative session, thanks in large part to efforts by the Texas Municipal League, members of TATOA and others working on behalf of Texas cities. Cities were at risk for millions of dollars in franchise revenue and their basic ability to control local rights of way.
HB 789, the telecommunications deregulation bill, also included a ban on municipal provision of telecom services. HB3179 would have replaced local franchises with a statewide tax and also pave the way for phone companies to get into the television business. Rep. Phil King, sponsor of the bills, attributed the failures to an inability to compromise between the House and Senate versions.
Failure of the bills occurred in spite of powerful backing by telco interests such as Southwestern Bell, who are sure to be back next session with another attempt. Opposition to HB3179 also included cable companies, who considered the measure too favorable to the telephone companies.
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2/2/2005
With the convening of the 79th Texas Legislature, the House Committee on Regulated Industries has submitted its "Report to the House."
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1/13/2005
TATOA expresses thanks to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison for her work on S150, particularly an amendment that "will protect the municipal access lines fees collected from telecommunications companies for private use of the public rights-of-way, which is vital revenue source for the general operating funds of Texas cities."