Fergie's Tech Blog

The Best Regulations Telco Money Can Buy

Via SaveTheInternet.com.

Charles Cooper, the executive editor at CNet, wrote an article today about the way telcos spin and deceive lawmakers into voting against the best interests of their constituents.

“Since the completion of last year’s telecommunications mega-mergers, small and medium-size businesses have been getting hosed–with Uncle Sam playing the role of complicit bystander,” he writes.

Cooper is referring to the SBC-AT&T and Verizon-MCI mergers announced in 2005. Telco lobbyists spun these mergers as pro-consumer and pro-business developments.

But since the late fall, prices for local private lines have done the opposite — increasing for both consumers and businesses. “Maybe I missed the fine print on the press releases but how do they square price increases with the public interest?” Cooper asks.

Today, these newly re-assembled telco giants are spending tens of millions of dollars to spin lawmakers with the same arguments against Net Neutrality. But decision makers in Washington might want to check voters’ pocketbooks before rubber stamping legislation to gut Net Neutrality.

posted by Fergie @ 6/23/2006 01:56:00 PM