The Bells are agressively attacking ourcore-principles. We lose ground every day.
The Bells are well funded, sneaky bastards…
The reason we didn’t win —we’ve been unable to engage the other groups enough to take actions—- and we
didn’t have the resources to play at their level, or even build coalitions. They
may be sympathic, but not engaged.
didn’t have the resources to play at their level, or even build coalitions. They
may be sympathic, but not engaged.
I’m not talking about G but about all those who cared more
about the "media" or "internet" issues than the "telco" issues. This is not
their fault, we failed to enlighten them on what was coming….
about the "media" or "internet" issues than the "telco" issues. This is not
their fault, we failed to enlighten them on what was coming….
We tried, but it wasn’t until Whitacre’s remarks and the
Bells new path (since they also own the backbones and like fools everyone let
the AT&T and MCI deals through) that most groups suddenly ‘groked’ that
there was even a problem.
Bells new path (since they also own the backbones and like fools everyone let
the AT&T and MCI deals through) that most groups suddenly ‘groked’ that
there was even a problem.
We tried for the last 6 years to stop the evil empire and
guess what — Darth Vadar won these last rounds…
guess what — Darth Vadar won these last rounds…
Now, you could argue that this was an inevitable
outcome,… that you can’t win. However, then, that would mean that all of the current bell activities should simply
go forward — we lose.
outcome,… that you can’t win. However, then, that would mean that all of the current bell activities should simply
go forward — we lose.
Again the Bells are agressively attacking our
core-principles. And they are well funded, sneaky bastards…
core-principles. And they are well funded, sneaky bastards…
Let’s see, we have:
- Consumers for Cable Choice — get franchises and stop
munis - Keep USF Fair — put taxes on VOIP and raise
USF - TRAC — to stop VOIP (destroyed LD)
- APT — to make sure that the Bells keep exclusive use
of the phone networks. - New Millennium Research — to do biased reasearch about the
munis, ISPs, telco competition. - Progress and Freedom Foundation— write new pieces of
legislation to harm munis, stop competition, open franchises. - Issue Dynamics — coordinates the groups and runs the
skunkworks. - Others — Brookings, Cato, Heartland,
USIIA….
There’s also 150 different co-opted groups like NAACP,
National Consumer League, Latino, Hispanic, Disabled, etc. Seniors, all out to
screw us… and all smiling and all funded by the Bells.
National Consumer League, Latino, Hispanic, Disabled, etc. Seniors, all out to
screw us… and all smiling and all funded by the Bells.
We’d like to think that everyone knows about these groups’
true identity… well, the article I posted from Telephony on Cable choice
proves that’s wrong thinking.
true identity… well, the article I posted from Telephony on Cable choice
proves that’s wrong thinking.
Then we have the DC lobbying groups who play with every Congressmen and Senator — full time staffers to match the Congress…not to
mention PACs to fund them, etc. We also have an
essentially co-opted media — in various interviews about our Verizon law
suits, I was told to not mention Verizon by name… On a large scale, how did
every reporter not report on the Bells’ failed fiber plans?
mention PACs to fund them, etc. We also have an
essentially co-opted media — in various interviews about our Verizon law
suits, I was told to not mention Verizon by name… On a large scale, how did
every reporter not report on the Bells’ failed fiber plans?
And they have Tom Tauke, former senator and congressmen,
attorney generals’ lobbying, it goes on an on… Did you know Dick Cheney was a
lobbyist for US West?
attorney generals’ lobbying, it goes on an on… Did you know Dick Cheney was a
lobbyist for US West?
And so, yes, grassroots fight are one of the imperatives
— Free press has been doing that, as has Consumer Union, and some of the guys
on this list doing the community things.—
— Free press has been doing that, as has Consumer Union, and some of the guys
on this list doing the community things.—
But how would we organize this, fund it? And if you mean
let’s just let nature take its course — Haven’t you ever watched ‘Wild
Kingdom’ on Animal Planet? We’re the food for the predators….
let’s just let nature take its course — Haven’t you ever watched ‘Wild
Kingdom’ on Animal Planet? We’re the food for the predators….
More importantly —how do we convince those we are
talking to that we’re ‘geniune’ and they’re not?
talking to that we’re ‘geniune’ and they’re not?
- Educate and change at the grassroots. (My thought and let the stinking Washington mess collapse of its own dead weight.)
Washington controls "the local" these days. We may
not win the fight in DC, but allowing it to simply run its course is to
essentially let the phone companies’ win.
not win the fight in DC, but allowing it to simply run its course is to
essentially let the phone companies’ win.
In the case of communities wiring, while the state can
block it by being pro-Bell, Congress can decide that as well. — Or with VOIP
services — if broadband providers are allowed different QOS for other
products, how is someone going to want an inferior product, especially if they
are already bundled and paying with their broadband connection…?
block it by being pro-Bell, Congress can decide that as well. — Or with VOIP
services — if broadband providers are allowed different QOS for other
products, how is someone going to want an inferior product, especially if they
are already bundled and paying with their broadband connection…?
We may be at best Sisyphus , the guy who continually rolls
the rock up the hill, but in this case, we have a 800-pound gorilla on the rock
pushing back.
the rock up the hill, but in this case, we have a 800-pound gorilla on the rock
pushing back.
And remember, AT&T used to be the other side of the
argument funding Voices for Choices, USISPA, etc. And now, those people are also
working for SBC (or have left.. The head of Cable Choice ran Voices.)
argument funding Voices for Choices, USISPA, etc. And now, those people are also
working for SBC (or have left.. The head of Cable Choice ran Voices.)
Right now I’ll continue to do what we’ve planned — using
data, take a pro-active stance for education and investigations’ of the Bells’
failed fiber optic plans and the costs of the networks, and use that argument
for net neutrality, VOIP, municipalities wiring, open networks for competitors,
etc.
data, take a pro-active stance for education and investigations’ of the Bells’
failed fiber optic plans and the costs of the networks, and use that argument
for net neutrality, VOIP, municipalities wiring, open networks for competitors,
etc.
Customers Funded Open Networks.
If nothing else, make it harder for Senators, Congressmen
and state people to simply vote "Bell".
and state people to simply vote "Bell".
If you want to take the initiative of building the grass
roots plans, I’ll be glad to help. Note. Teletruth has tried that in the past.
It requires more resources than we have (Move-on.org or Free Press could do it
better.)
roots plans, I’ll be glad to help. Note. Teletruth has tried that in the past.
It requires more resources than we have (Move-on.org or Free Press could do it
better.)
Sneaky bastards is right. The media is busting the Bells, specifically Verizon, on various issues on various coasts.
Today, the LA Times wrote about the Bells’ front groups lying to the public.
Meanwhile, on the east coast, The Post yesterday wrote about Verizon promising to bring in new jobs for their FiOS product … only to never pay!
The LA Times story:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-phonetv16feb16,1,1812029.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
The Washington Post story:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/15/AR2006021502499.html
The media — including bloggers — need to continue outing the Bells for their dishonesty!
Sneaky bastards is right. The media is busting the Bells, specifically Verizon, on various issues on various coasts.
Today, the LA Times wrote about the Bells’ front groups lying to the public.
Meanwhile, on the east coast, The Post yesterday wrote about Verizon promising to bring in new jobs for their FiOS product … only to never pay!
The LA Times story:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-phonetv16feb16,1,1812029.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
The Washington Post story:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/15/AR2006021502499.html
The media — including bloggers — need to continue outing the Bells for their dishonesty!