Ohio Senate passes telecom reform. On a vote of 29-3, the Senate passed the Ohio Telecom Modernization Act of 2009. [Ohio Tech Bits Blog]

TOT applauds Senate vote on Telecom Modernization Act. TOT Executive Director Scott Schweitzer called on the Ohio House to take action on its companion bill. [Ohio Tech Bits Blog]

Twitter Disrupted By Web Attack. Twitter was the target of a cyberattack Thursday that disrupted its microblogging service for many users. [NY Times Tech Blog]

Q&A: “Chief Evangelist” preaches the virtues of a revived Youngstown. [hiVelocity, h/t Advance Northeast Ohio]

Mobile-Payment Services Grow. A handful of mobile-payment start-ups are gaining support from major finance players. [Digits (Wall Street Journal)]

Another One Bites the Dust: 2009 Year in REVIEW. Five IT Martini events were thrown in Columbus and Cincinnati this year, which raised a grand total of $8500 for charity. [IT Martini]

Report touts Third Frontier successes. [Business First of Columbus]

TOT issued this press release following Tuesday’s vote:

TECHNOLOGY FOR OHIO’S TOMORROW APPLAUDS OHIO SENATE VOTE ON OHIO TELECOM MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2009

(COLUMBUS) – Technology for Ohio’s Tomorrow (TOT) Executive Director Scott Schweitzer today praised the Ohio Senate for passing the Ohio Telecom Modernization Act of 2009, Senate Bill 162, today by a vote of 29 to 3.

“This was a bi-partisan vote that brought Republicans and Democrats together to upgrade and modernize Ohio’s telecom laws. As senators from both sides of the aisle said today on the senate floor, this bill is all about jobs and infrastructure investment,” Schweitzer said.

Earlier in the day, the bill was passed unanimously in the Senate Energy and Utilities Committee after a number of amendments were passed that strengthened consumer protections in the bill.

“This bill recognizes that the competitive marketplace has changed in Ohio and in the nation. Consumers now have lots of telecom providers to choose from, whether they be wireless phones, cable phones or internet phones. This bill recognizes that new reality,” Schweitzer said.

Schweitzer called on the Ohio House to take action on a companion bill currently before the House Public Utilities Committee. House Bill 276 has already had seven hearings in the House committee.

The Ohio Senate passed the Ohio Telecom Modernization Act of 2009 on Tuesday. The vote on Senate Bill 162 was 29-3.

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The Ohio Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would give telephone providers more freedom when it comes to handling customer service issues, setting rates and marketing new products to low-income customers. The legislation still needs approval from the Ohio House, which is expected to vote on the issue after a holiday break.

…

During Tuesday’s Senate session Chris Widener, a Republican from Springfield, pointed to changes that were made during Senate committee meetings over the past week that he says make the bill more consumer-friendly.

…

“We bring to you a very balanced bill that will spur investment, will create jobs, will retain jobs and at the same time protect Ohio’s consumers,” Widener said on the Senate floor on Tuesday.

The support of TOT members has been critical to the effort so far. Thank you to everyone who took action. Now, on to the House!

Click here to watch live video, via The Ohio Channel.

The Ohio State Grange, a statewide fraternal organization for farmers, is supporting telecom reform. Grange president Gary Brumbaugh makes the case in Farm and Dairy:

Rural citizens in Ohio are currently faced with a challenge: old and outdated legislation.

The Ohio Modernization Act of 2009, S.B. 162 and H.B. 276, would modernize telecom legislation by preserving current consumer protections and removing costly regulations, which will in turn allow telecom providers to invest more in infrastructure.

This infrastructure is critical to rural citizens, who may current lack affordable, high-speed access, or not have access at all. This would be resolved through the new proposed laws by encouraging competition, through reforming the outdated rules that are unfairly applied to one class of providers, but not the competitors.

…

The Ohio State Grange, founded in 1873, along with our local granges, supports the Ohio Telecom Modernization Act. The Grange believes in choice and competition, and without this act, many rural communities in Ohio may be shut out from receiving the benefits of broadband Internet.

Support telecom reform. The Ohio State Senate is considering the Ohio Telecom Modernization Act of 2009 (SB 162 and HB 276). Click here to take action. [Ohio Tech Bits Blog]

Register for the 2009 TechColumbus Innovation Awards. Event pricing for individuals is $129/TechColumbus member, $169/non-member through Dec. 31; $199/member, $249/non-member after Dec. 31. [Ohio Tech Bits Blog]

How the iPhone Could Reboot Education. [Wired.com]

Yahoo Adds Twitter to Search Results. Yahoo, following similar moves by Bing and Google, began adding Twitter updates to some search results this week. [Digits (Wall Street Journal)]

IT Martini Hour 8 Wrap Up + PICS. [IT Martini]

Facebook’s Privacy Changes Draw More Scrutiny. [NY Times Tech Blog]

Ohio Business Roundtable endorses renewal of Third Frontier. [Dayton Daily News]