Verizion

Ths came to me via email list from the ACM.

"Meet the cable and phone undustry's latest astroturf attempt
by Karl Bode

Because the nation's largest telecom companies clearly don't already exert enough political pressure on lawmakers crafting our national broadband plan, telecom vendors and broadband ISPs have created a new PR and lobbying operation called Broadband For America. The goal of the group, according to a group spokesman, is to be "a resource for policy-makers in an effort to ensure that the national broadband plan results in a faster, smarter and safer Internet." A brief introduction from the group's website:

A collective of Massachusetts public access communities are asking friends of Public Access to join us in opposition of Senate Bill # 1531, in house, H 3765, aka Verizon Bill. The bill is apparently a scam being spun as a boost for competition, when we see it as actually an attempt to give Verizon an edge over cable competitors. If successful the bill will place municipalities at a disadvantage when it comes to determining community media, technology and other franchise license related needs. Verizon tried to pass a similar bill before back in 2007, Worcester city council and administration, to their credit and wisdom, joined a large number of cities and citizens across the state in defeating it. Saving this municipality millions of dollars, local controls, senior discounts, locking out potential discriminatory "cherry picking" service practices and maintaining our Public Access as well. The right thing is to shoot this Senate Bill 1531, also known as the Verizon Bill, down immediately. To our Senate representatives we hope you do not fall asleep on this one

On July 22, 2009, there will be a public hearing at the State House on Senate Bill #1531. Join us in saying NO to this Bill.
Please contact your State Representatives and Senators and explain how this bill will adversely affect stations such as WCCA TV and therefore your community. This link should tell you who your local legislators are - http://www.mass.gov/legis/city_town.htm .

We hope our city council ( read more)