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<br /> TELECOM IN THE NEWS <br /> San Ramon Negotiating with AT&T on Project The position backs the stance of AT&T, and was <br /> Lightspeed stated in comments filed at the Federal Communi- <br /> cations Commission on February 13. <br /> The San Ramon City Council voted 3-0 to <br /> authorize an agreement with AT&T that would bring For the complete story, visit <br /> Project Lightspeed, a combination video, high- www.multichannel.com and search for the article <br /> speed Internet and phone service package, to city titled "Microsoft Backs AT&T on Franchising." <br /> residents. <br /> Telecos Pledge to Pay Same Franchise Fees <br /> Although an agreement has yet to be reached, as Cable <br /> the city and the telecommunications giant are in <br /> negotiations, even though San Ramon has a local Telecommunications giants Verizon and AT&T <br /> franchise agreement with Comcast. AT&T contends testified at a U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on <br /> it is not cable service as defined under San Ramon February 15, that they would pay the same fran- <br /> municipal code, state law or federal law, and there- chise fees as cable companies if the U.S. stream- <br /> fore can provide the bundled telecommunications lines the franchising process. <br /> services. <br /> In addition, Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg <br /> For the complete story, visit promised that his company would carry public, <br /> www.contracostatimes.com and search for the educational and government (PEG) channels, and <br /> article titled "City's Budget, Financial Goals Top that Verizon supports preserving local governments' <br /> Agenda." authority over rights-of-way. <br /> Walnut Creek, Livermore, Not in Agreement For the complete story, visit <br /> with San Ramon www.broadcastin<;lcable.com and search for the <br /> article titled "Seidenberg, Whitacre Pledge To <br /> As San Ramon makes plans to form an agree- Match Cable Fees." <br /> ment with AT&T for the telecom giant's Project <br /> Lightspeed, the cities of Walnut Creek and MuniWireless.com Founder Predicts Telcos <br /> Livermore have rejected similar proposals. Will Become Wholesale Providers of Broad- <br /> band Access <br /> Although telecommunications companies began <br /> to install above-ground equipment to provide the The founder of muniwireless.com, a website <br /> bundled service upgrades, Walnut Creek and devoted to municipal wireless broadband projects <br /> Livermore have stopped installation of those worldwide that are funded or supported by cities <br /> cabinets over concerns while a definition of Internet and towns, predicted telecos such as BellSouth will <br /> Protocol Television (IPTV) is established under ultimately provide broadband access on a whole- <br /> state and federal law. sale basis to other providers - entertainment and <br /> gaming companies, portals like Yahoo, applications <br /> For the complete story, visit providers like Microsoft and search engines such <br /> www.contracostatimes.com and search for the as Google, <br /> article titled "San Ramon Welcoming AT&T Plan, <br /> Livermore, Walnut Creek Aren't." Among her reasons, she cites site search <br /> engines such as Google partnering with municipali- <br /> Microsoft Backs AT&T, Favors Federal Telecom ties, Internet service providers, and content provid- <br /> Regulation ers to offer free Internet access and voice calls. <br /> Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft Corp" For the complete story, visit WWW.troDOS.com <br /> announced that he's in favor of federal telecommu- and search for the article titled "Bold Prediction: <br /> nications regulation that would reduce or eliminate Telcos Will Become Wholesale Providers." <br /> local franchise agreements - which he views as <br /> barriers to entry. <br /> PAGE 2 - PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the league's Official Website--www.cacities.org <br /> February 17, 2006 - Issue #7 <br />