TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: A Must-Read Article: A Question of Independence

A Must-Read Article: A Question of Independence

Jack Decker (jack-yahoogroups@workbench.net)
Wed, 04 May 2005 13:04:20 -0400

Read this, print it out, give it to others to read ... Please note
that this article specifically mentions The New Millennium Research
Council, The Progress & Freedom Foundation and The Heartland
Institute. I strongly suspect that in Michigan, you could add the
Mackinac Center for Public Policy to that list, since they seem to be
pretty much "cut from the same cloth" as P&FF and Heartland.

http://news.com.com/A+question+of+independence/2009-1034_3-5681661.html

A question of independence

By Marguerite Reardon
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
May 2, 2005 4:00 AM PDT

Charges of "astroturf" lobbying are flying in the debate over
municipal broadband, as researchers rush to meet the growing demand
for data and economic analysis.

The term "astroturf" typically describes the use of artificial
grassroots groups that pose as citizen initiatives but get major
funding from corporate interests -- a strategy perfected by the
telecommunications industry in its fights with regulators.

Consumer groups complain that the Bells and cable operators are using
a similar tactic in their efforts to prevent cities from building
broadband networks that would compete with their own.

The phone and cable companies have weighed in on this topic, lobbying
state legislatures to pass new laws that would prohibit or limit these
networks. They've also taken their fight to the public, through
advertising in various communities. Supporters of municipal broadband
say these companies are also influencing the debate by helping fund
self-identified independent research groups that criticize city-owned
networks.

Groups singled out for criticism include The New Millennium Research
Council, The Progress & Freedom Foundation and The Heartland
Institute.

"It's deceptive when the public hears the name of an organization that
sounds like a respected organization with some authority behind it,
when in fact it is being backed by an interested party," said Kenneth
DeGraff, a policy advocate at Consumers Union, the publisher of
Consumer Reports. "We look at issues purely from the consumer's
perspective. Sometimes we agree with the phone companies, and
sometimes we don't. But we never accept any money from an interested
party."

Full story at:
http://news.com.com/A+question+of+independence/2009-1034_3-5681661.html

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