Bad Deeds for 12-1-2009

 

The Internet as You Know it is About to End – The web as you know it is going to end if the telecom companies get their way.

They grew accustom to controlling your phone rates. They grew accustom to controlling what you saw on cable. They grew accustom to their arrangement with the studios and the networks. And they grew accustom to the manner in which they financially participated in those arrangements. Now, because of the Internet, we have a different media landscape.

In Washington right now, the Federal Communications Commission is attempting to make Net Neutrality a hard and fast rule for the Internet. This would stop AT&T and other companies from destroying web content and your access to it. Because of this, the Telecom Companies have nearly 500 lobbyists in place to steal your Internet freedom. There are only 535 members of Congress. That’s nearly one lobbyist for every member of Congress. The telecom companies have also (at press time) already spent nearly $75 million dollars to convince lawmakers to restrict your unfettered Internet access.

This is serious business. For them and for us. A liberated Internet will continue to be a reality in your life (and in the lives of your children) if rules like Net Neutrality are in place.

You have to make that happen. Tell the FCC and your representatives that the removal of your Internet Freedoms will not stand.

 

More Bad Telecom Practices – It’s bad enough that telecom companies lock most popular wireless devices to their own service plans – meaning your phone is effectively worthless if you want to leave for a better deal. Verizon has just announced a $350 early-termination fee for all of its new smartphone customers. It’s just another tactic to keep us from shopping around and having more choice when it comes to our wireless service. Tell Congress enough is enough.

 

Comcast About to Gobble Up NBC – Talk about a bad marriage. Comcast, the nation’s largest cable company, is getting hitched to NBC, one of the world’s biggest producers of TV shows and motion pictures. Comcast would have unprecedented control over what you can watch and how you can watch it. Comcast already raises its rates every year. With less competition, they’ll jack up prices even more. If you don’t have Comcast at home, you could end up paying more to get NBC shows. Comcast will have an incentive to promote NBC shows over local or independent programming, making it even harder to find alternative voices on cable. TAKE ACTION: Tell Washington to Stop This Merger

Regards,

Jim