Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2016

With the Florida Supreme Court‘s opinion releases on winter break till Jan. 12, several high-profile cases will remain unresolved in 2016. Here are a few, starting with the court’s official case summary: — Debaun v. State of Florida: “This case asks whether laws governing sexually transmissible diseases apply only when the parties involved are a man and […]

Jim RosicaMay 12, 2016

Frontier Communications’ top executive for Florida operations says the company “apologize(s) to every Tampa Bay area customer who has experienced service disruptions.” Melanie Williams, senior vice-president and general manager for operations in Florida, released a statement Thursday. That’s the same day Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was “cautiously optimistic that Frontier disruptions in services will […]

Jim RosicaMay 12, 2016

Pam Bondi came ready to rumble against Frontier Communications — and it looks like she won. The state’s attorney general announced Thursday the Connecticut-based telecommunications company had “committed to improving communications and customer services in Florida.” “After a lengthy, productive meeting with Frontier executives, I am cautiously optimistic that Frontier disruptions in services will be quickly […]

Jim RosicaMay 9, 2016

When there’s something strange about your Frontier Communications service, who you gonna call? Or rather, who you gonna call that can actually do something about it? In Florida, it’s not clear. On April 1, Frontier took over Verizon‘s landline, internet and cable TV service in Florida, specifically for Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota customers. Since then, […]

Jim RosicaApril 6, 2016

Should satellite-television service be taxed at a higher rate than cable? The Florida Supreme Court heard arguments from both sides Wednesday. Satellite TV companies, including DirecTV, want the court to uphold the 1st District Court of Appeal’s 2-1 decision last year, which said that taxing the two services differently is unconstitutional. The state’s Revenue Department and Florida’s […]

Peter SchorschOctober 22, 2015

I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting with Andy Gardiner at his home, but, based on his tenure as president of the Florida Senate, I have to wonder whether his house has working electricity, much less cable or Wi-Fi. That’s because Gardiner hates technology. To employ one of Daniel Ruth‘s gimmicks, Gardiner apparently represents the […]

Guest AuthorApril 22, 2015

For more than five decades, local governments and utility companies have had a very good arrangement that works well for everyone. When a private utility needs to run such things as transmission or cable lines, the utility enters into an agreement with a local government and this agreement allows the privately-owned infrastructure to be placed […]

Tag: cable TV
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

High-profile Supreme Court cases still hanging fire at year’s end

Frontier apologizes to Tampa Bay for spotty service

Pam Bondi makes progress on Frontier service problems

Adam Putnam, Pam Bondi fight Frontier on spotty service

State’s highest court talks TV tax

Senate President Andy Gardiner hates technology

Sam Ferreri: 'Severe negative fiscal impact' of utilities changes = tax increase