  The Kauffman bracket skein module $K(M)$ of a 3-manifold $M$ is defined over
formal power series in the variable $h$ by letting $A=e^{h/4}$. For a compact
oriented surface $F$, it is shown that $K(F \times I)$ is a quantization of the
$\g$-characters of the fundamental group of $F$, corresponding to a
geometrically defined Poisson bracket. Finite type invariants for unoriented
knots and links are defined. Topologically free Kauffman bracket modules are
shown to generate finite type invariants. It is shown for compact $M$ that
$K(M)$ can be generated as a module by cables on a finite set of knots.
Moreover, if $M$ contains no incompressible surfaces, the module is finitely
generated.
