[DDN] Ethics in Telecommunications Lecture and Awards Presented by Astroturf Group, TRAC.
ing of deep-pocket corporations to shout louder than anyone else. This problem is widespread and hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent to fool the public. Go to Issue Dynamics web site and you find that the company is 'creating buzz for IPTV'. By coincidence the Bell companies are fighting to offer IPTV -cable services, are trying to get rid of any restrictions on state and federal level from the FCC to Congress. Issue Dynamics also created "NMRC", New Millennium Research Council to do the new research funded by the phone companies. "IPTV: NMRC Report and Telenews Event ---IDI was approached to create a new buzz about the possibilities of IPTV. IDI and partner think tank, the NMRC, produced a dynamic 17 page report and held a telenews event which attracted 20 news outlets and was covered by over 50 national publications." http://www.idi.net/about/case-studies/iptv-1.html Common Cause has released two reports on the new crop of organizations that are "wolves in sheep's clothing", examining the current net neutrality and broadband and franchise debates. http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=2007877&auid=1871905 Over the next two months, Teletruth will be updating this information. However, it is clear astroturf and skunkworks organizations represent the antithesis of ethical behavior. Maybe someone should tell this to those in Washington DC. Bruce Kushnick, Teletruth http://www.teletruth.org ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] RE: Harvard Nieman Watchdog: Why is Congress considering such anti-consumer telecom bills? and other telecom stories.
Teletruth News Alert: August 1st, 2006 New Series on America's Wrong Path in Telecommunications, Internet, Broadband and Wireless Services. Harvard's Neiman School of Journalism Watchdog project is publishing a series of articles about America's broadband, Internet and telecom future written by Teletruth's Bruce Kushnick. "The Nieman Watchdog Journalism Project grows from this premise and this goal: to help the press ask penetrating questions, critical questions, questions that matter, questions not yet asked about today's news." To see the five current articles and bio http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.viewContributor&bio id=130 Current Article: (Fifth in the series) Why is Congress considering such anti-consumer telecom bills? http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ask_this.view&askthisid=0 0219 Q. Is 200KBPS a reasonable broadband standard for America? (Asian countries are now using 100 Mbps in both directions for their standard. That is 500 times more powerful.) Q. Given that the telcos have repeatedly failed to live up to the promises they made in return for huge subsidies in the past, why would it be different this time? Q. Who is speaking on behalf of the consumers? Q. Why do phone companies with excessive profit margins need Universal Service Fund subsidies? Congress has decided to update the Telecommunications Act of 1996. There are two proposed bills; both would benefit the large telephone firms at the expense of consumers. The press has pretty much left the public in the dark when it comes to what these bills would do. Decent coverage is long overdue, especially considering the likely increases in telephone, broadband taxes and new Internet constraints on users. Other Articles: 1) Where's that broadband fiber-optic access?, March 14, 2006 http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Ask_this.view&askthisid=1 86 In spite of huge payments and other financial incentives to the country's monopolistic telecommunication giants, the United States is 16th in broadband Internet technology and falling. How did things go wrong in your state? 2) How the Baby Bells and the government destroyed competition for DSL, long distance and local phone service, April 13, 2006 http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Ask_this.view&askthisid=1 96 Reporters should be asking why the promised era of competition to lower prices and bring broadband to America never materialized. Article 3) Telecoms, cable and the 'Net neutrality' fight, May 03, 2006 http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Ask_this.view&askthisid=2 06 Who paid for, who owns the broadband 'pipes?' Customers largely paid for them; phone companies claim ownership. Also: Open vs. closed networks. Article 4) How do the big telecoms qualify as small businesses?, June 23, 2006 http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Ask_this.view&askthisid=2 19 Giant firms are gaming the system, using false fronts as 'very small businesses' for FCC auctions of the airwave spectrum -- saving billions. FUTURE ARTICLES IN THE SERIES: * Kill Humpty Dumpty: It is clear that the Bell mergers harmed the growth of broadband, competition and even the economy. Why aren't we calling For "Divestiture II: Break up of the Bells"? * Phone Bill Outrage: Raise the FCC Line Charge on every local phone bill to $10.00, even though it doesn't go to the FCC and was never audited? * How Astroturf and "Skunkworks" groups, funded by the phone companies harm America's broadband and telecommunications future. * Five Scandals You Should Investigate. About Harvard Nieman School of Journalism Watchdog project http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm About Bruce Kushnick: http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.viewContributor&bio id=130 The series is based on the ebook: $200 Billion Broadband Scandal http://www.newnetworks.com/broadbandscandals.htm To learn more about Teletruth: http://www.teletruth.org ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
RE: [DDN] Erate Update
>Expanding the pool of telecommunications companies and services that >contribute to the USP would go a long way toward providing program >stability. Source: CRN Bonnie, I have a different perspective on this. The USF funding has become a slush fund for large phone companies. The largest amount doesn't go to the E-Rate but to the 'high-cost fund' which goes to companies who are some of the most profitable in the US. Worse, the Stevens Bill would increase the Erate on phone customers 233% because it now adds money directly to the local part of ALL phone bills -thus, it increases everyone's phone bill including wireless, broadband and VOIP. http://www.newnetworks.com/usfanalysis.htm Some states also have 'high-cost-funds' added to phone bills. And when it comes to funding broadband and other services, including wiring of schools and libraries, states also have created funds to do this based on adding charges to local phone rates. Do you really want to increase phone taxes when they go to companies who don't need it? While I'm totally for the Erate to exist and pay for schools and libraries to have great service, the real issue isn't increasing the total fund but getting rid of all of the abuses so that the schools can get more money. --- And finding out what happened to the commitments already paid for by customers. Example: Ohio... by 2000, everything should be wired with fiber? -- didn't happen but customers paid for it. Ohio Alternate Regulation Plan, September 20, 1994 "21. INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITMENTS The Company's infrastructure commitment in this Plan shall consist of the commitment to deploy, within five years of the effective date of the Plan and within the Company's existing service territory, broadband two-way fully interactive high quality distance learning capabilities to all state chartered high schools including vocational, technical schools, colleges and universities; deploy broadband facilities to all hospitals, libraries, county jails and state, county and federal court buildings." The Steven's Bill also favors 2 states -- Alaska and Hawaii, and even has sections of the bill dedicated to 'unserved' broadband areas --adding an additional $1/2 billion to the USF. Senator Stevens is from Alaska and Innouye is from... And the new digital divide is being created now with the "Franchise" issue. The Bell companies want to pick and choose which cities they wire -- thus, rich ones... do the rich communities really need 'cable competition to lower prices?" The Bell companies' plans are in fact, crippled networks. http://www.newnetworks.com/fioslightspeed.htm For example, in Asia today, the companies supply 100 Mbps services in both directions for $40. In the US today, the best we have is DSL over the 100 year old copper wiring.., And the deep, dark, secret is that America already paid for upgrades to networks, not to mention the wiring of schools and libraries -- not with DSL but with fiber. --- 45mpbs in both directions, to the home and office. I've written about this in my Harvard Nieman Watchdog articles. http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.viewContributor&bio id=130 Ironically, Net Neutrality shouldn't even be an issue because customers paid for 'open', ubiquitous networks, and the phone companies have been able to turn common carrier services into exclusive clubs for themselves. If you really want to give everyone a fair shake, it's time for some accountability -- audits, and other important evaluation tools. Bruce Kushnick, Teletruth ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] Book Event: $200 Billion Broadband Scandal: March 6th, 2006, 7PM, New York City
for those of you in New York City... The book outlines that America is 16th in broadband because the Bell companies charged customers for fiber optic services that were never delivered. These services were to be 'ubiquitous', OPEN to all competition and 'reasonably priced'. Today, Korea and Japan have 100 Mbps speeds for $40. The Bell companies' new plans, Verizon's FIOS and Lightspeed will be delivered, if at all, to rich neighborhoods, not open to competition, and slower and cost 400% more than in Asia and elsewhere in the US. Also, turns out that Universal Service taxes mostly go to "high-cost" fund areas, ie, back to the very profitable phone companies. This book launch is the start to get investigation into the $200 billion collected from customers but never put back into the networks. === TELETRUTH NEWS ALERT: Join us at: The Half King, March 6th, 2006, 7PM, New York City Celebrate the Release of Bruce Kushnick's New Ebook Expose $200 Billion Broadband Scandal Did America pay over $200 billion for fiber optic broadband services wenever received? Is this why America is16th in the world in broadband? Are you owed $2000.00 from Verizon, SBC,BellSouth or Qwest? Get your own autographed (CD) copy Help Send Kushnick to Washington! The New York Times, Muniwireless, Good Morning Silicon Alley, Techdirt,Media Access,--- "a 'sordid story' of business fraud" --- "damning list of indictments" --- "meticulously documents"--- "a powerful critique" --- "serve as a warning for the promises made by the Bells today." --- "A Rant: All 406 Pages of it." March 6th, 2006, 7PM The Half King 505 W 23RD ST NEW YORK, NY 10011 TEL: 212.462.4300 www.thehalfking.com DSLPrime, Broadband Reports, Cook, Voic.us, Sociate, NYC Wireless board member: "talented, persistent, honest" --- "brilliantly documented this fraud" --- "stunning in its implications."--- "Kushnick is in a long tradition of advocates like Ida Tarbell and Jane Jacobs"---"Anyone who wants the U.S. to thrive in this connected future should read Kushnick's book." Special Book Signing Edition ---Jeweled Boxed CD Version. Can't make it and want to make a difference: Buy the book, donate money to help send Kushnick to Washington DC. More about the Book, Donate, Online ebook Version, about the Author http://www.newnetworks.com/broadbandscandals.htm Read what the Experts are Blogging About: http://200billionscandal.typepad.com/ Contact; Kelly Deegan, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Bruce Kushnick, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Teletruth is a nationwide, independent customer alliance dedicated tobroadband and telecommunications issues and a former member of the FCC Consumer Advisory Committee (2003-2004). http://www.teletruth.org ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
