Wisconsin Video Choice Coalition

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Wisconsin Video Choice Coalition is an ad hoc group created to lobby in favor of Wisconsin Senate Bill 107 / Assembly Bill 207, called the "Video Competition Act." The Wisconsin Merchants Federation identifies itself as a founding member of the coalition.[1]

As detailed by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, the bill was based on model legislation drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council and has been strongly supported by AT&T. [2] [3] Industry groups helped craft the bill before it was introduced to the state legislature, reported The Capital Times:[4]

In a March 21 [2007] memo, Mark Kunkel of the Legislative Reference Bureau details the "instructions" he said he received during a Feb. 20 meeting with James Barrett, senior counsel of AT&T Wisconsin; Buddy Julius, director of government affairs at AT&T Wisconsin; Tom Moore, executive director of the Wisconsin Cable Communications Association; and Adam Raschka, aide to Rep. Phil Montgomery, R-Green Bay, the primary author of the bill. John Stolzenberg, chief of research services for the Wisconsin Legislative Council, was also at the meeting; Tara Corvo, an attorney from Washington, D.C., who also represents the cable association, joined the conversation by phone.
Among other instructions, Kunkel noted that he was directed to include a rebuttal to anticipated criticism that the bill would illegally supersede franchise agreements between cities and cable companies. Wisconsin's cities received approximately $31 million in franchise fees in 2004, according to the Department of Revenue.

Members

From the coalition's press release: [5]

Of these groups, the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups and Wisconsin Technology Council previously received funding from SBC Wisconsin, which is now part of AT&T.[6] The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups has also received money directly from AT&T, as sponsorship for its annual convention,[7] and offers members "discounts on assistive devices for the telephone such as volume amplifiers from the AT&T Special Needs Center."[8] Wisconsin Technology Council lists AT&T among its major sponsors.[9] Women Impacting Public Policy receives funding from AT&T and Verizon, among other corporate sponsors. [10]

SourceWatch resources

External links

References

  1. ↑ "The Past Week in Review (PDF file)," Wisconsin Merchants Federation, October 12, 2007.
  2. ↑ Hadrian, "Phone Friends," Big Money Blog, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, March 29, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Bills and Rules Lobbied by AT&T," Wisconsin Ethics Board website, accessed October 2007.
  4. ↑ Judith Davidoff, "Industry Role Decried, But Cable Bill Endorsed," The Capital Times, (Madison, Wis.), April 17, 2007.
  5. ↑ Press release, "Wisconsinites strongly urge alternatives to cable TV, support Video Competition Act" (PDF file), Wisconsin Video Choice Coalition via WisPolitics.com, September 24, 2007.
  6. ↑ "SBC To Provide Grants to Nonprofits," Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wis.), December 10, 2004.
  7. ↑ "CWAG Celebrates a Successful 29th Annual Convention," CWAG website, accessed October 2007.
  8. ↑ "AT&T Special Needs Center," CWAG website, accessed October 2007.
  9. ↑ "Sponsors," WTC website, accessed October 2007.
  10. ↑ "About Us," WIPP website, accessed October 2007.

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