[GLLUG] Fwd: Don't Let Ma Bell Monopolize the Internet

Andy Lee ALEE at courts.mi.gov
Thu Oct 12 09:47:57 EDT 2006 

What are your thoughts on the argument that ATT won't have nearly the
monopoly that existed in the 80's? POTS is a dying technology. There is
really competition in the cellular market. Broadband doesn't provide
great options, and wired links are likely to stay a choice between ATT
and Comcast, but there is a choice. Furthermore, if the 4G wireless
networks provide what has been advertised, communication wires to the
home will be a thing of the past.

>>> "Nick Kwiatkowski" <kwiatk27 at msu.edu> 10/12/2006 8:20 AM >>>
Two issues with this :

 

1.	The current FCC is very, very, VERY corporate friendly.  As soon
as
Martin came into play, the FCC has been going out of their way to give
the
Telcos exactly what they want.  Hell, he didn't listen to an AP poll
that
suggested less than 30% of Americans supported him in his decisions in
the
30 days of office (www.broadbandreports.com
<http://www.broadbandreports.com/> )
2.	The 'old' FCC consisted of 2 conservatories, 2 liberals, and 1
moderate.  The moderate left this summer, and was recently replaced by
another conservative.  The conservatives have been very corporate
happy, and
recommended that the merger go through without any conditions.  Oh, did
I
mention that this new member of the commissioner group was a former
Telecom
PR / Lobbyist???

 

The merger will be approved; rubber-stamp style.  The only thing that
may
trip it up is already in play.  As I noted, the newest FCC commissioner
was
a telecom lobbyist in his last position.  He has bowed out of this
vote
because of ethics issues.  This leaves a 2-2 possible vote.  A 2-2 tie
means
that the merger will have to wait until the next publishing term, in
January.  Because this may "get caught up in all that post-election
mess"
(Ed Whitacre).  Not enough time to buy the vote perhaps?

 

What does this mean for net-neutrality?   Nothing right now.  If
congress
writes a law, I'm sure they'll botch it.   If the FCC says something,
I'm
sure they will spin it to favor only certain companies.  If "the new"
AT&T
implements it, they will loose customer.

            .but only loose customers that have another choice.  Until
another administration comes in and de-fangs the current FCC (or
rather,
puts some fangs into the FCC), nothing will change.  We can begin our
rant
of 2-more-years!  2-more-years!

 

-Nick Kwiatkowski

"The Phone Guy"

 

 

  _____  

From: linux-user-bounces at egr.msu.edu
[mailto:linux-user-bounces at egr.msu.edu] 
On Behalf Of Caleb Cushing
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 7:33 AM
To: Linux User; Metro Detroit Linux Users Group
Subject: [GLLUG] Fwd: Don't Let Ma Bell Monopolize the Internet

 

some of you may have already seen this and I hope no one considers this
spam
as I am not trying to propogate spam. I hope you'll all consider
sending a
message to stop "Ma Bell reborn" and to help preserve net neutrality. 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ben Scott, Freepress.net <list at freepress.net 
<mailto:list at freepress.net> >
Date: Oct 11, 2006 3:05 PM
Subject: Don't Let Ma Bell Monopolize the Internet
To: Caleb Cushing <xenoterracide at gmail.com>


 <http://www.freepress.net/> free press action alert



Dear Caleb,


 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh8tJvbM1Ag> Richard P. Merryweather

Watch Our Exclusive Interview with the Merger's 'Mastermind': Richard
P.
Merryweather

Part I: 'Merger and Me <http://action.freepress.net/ct/1per3Xn1LqVL/>
'
Part II: 'Money Well Spent
<http://action.freepress.net/ct/17er3Xn1LqVS/> '

Take Action Now <http://action.freepress.net/ct/Cper3Xn1LqVq/> 

The Justice Department today rubber stamped the $78 billion merger of
AT&T
and BellSouth -- deserting its post as the public's shield against
corporate
monopolies. 

The merger now goes to the Federal Communications Commission for final
approval. The deal would effectively resurrect the Ma Bell monopoly
that
ruled our nation's communications industry for nearly a century. 

The only ones standing in the path of a new AT&T monopoly are citizens
like
you. Tell the FCC: 

Don't <http://action.freepress.net/ct/Cper3Xn1LqVq/>  Let Ma Bell
Monopolize
the Internet 

The merger of AT&T and BellSouth would create a network behemoth that
controls nearly half of all telephone land lines in the United States.
But
the new AT&T presents a far greater threat. 

Under the rule of CEO Ed Whitacre, the company is leading the effort to
gut
Net Neutrality -- the longstanding principle that prevents phone
companies
from controlling what you do, where you go and what you see on the
Internet.


Soon all digital media -- telephone, TV, radio and the Web -- will
enter
homes via a single broadband connection. Whitacre is trying to control
this
"pipe" -- and the billions of dollars at stake -- by erecting new
Internet
toll booths and discriminating against Web sites that can't afford
their new
fees. 

If the FCC doesn't place any conditions on the mega-merger, nothing
would
prevent the new AT&T from taking away the free and open Internet that
has
fostered unprecedented economic innovation and democratic
participation. 

The good news is that we have some allies at the FCC. Two of the four
commissioners who will vote on the merger have indicated that they
will
support Net Neutrality conditions as part of any merger. But they need
strong public support to prevail. 

 <http://action.freepress.net/ct/Cper3Xn1LqVq/> Tell the FCC: No AT&T
Merger
without Net Neutrality 

Before the FCC rules, it needs to hear from you. Please forward this
e-mail
to everyone you know. 

Onward, 

Ben Scott
Policy Director
Free Press
www.freepress.net <http://action.freepress.net/ct/11er3Xn1LqVa/>  

P.S. For more information on the AT&T-BellSouth merger, please visit:
www.freepress.net/att <http://action.freepress.net/ct/1der3Xn1LqVz/>  

P.P.S. For another take on the deal, watch our exclusive YouTube
interview
with Richard P. Merryweather, president and CEO of CT&T Com: 

Part I: "The <http://action.freepress.net/ct/1per3Xn1LqVL/>  Merger and
Me"
Part II: "Money Well Spent
<http://action.freepress.net/ct/17er3Xn1LqVS/> " 

  _____  

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