Interesting People mailing list archives
PRESIDENT BUSH'S PLAN FOR AFFORDABLE BROADBAND ACCESS FAILS TO DEAL WITH REAL ISSUES: "HIDDEN TAX, LACK OF CHOICE
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2004 05:52:37 -0400
Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 21:13:42 -0700 From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com> PRESIDENT BUSH'S PLAN FOR AFFORDABLE BROADBAND ACCESS FAILS TO DEAL WITH REAL ISSUES: "HIDDEN TAX, LACK OF CHOICE President Bushs plan unveiled today to provide affordable high-speed Internet access to all Americans by 2007 fails to address a primary hurdle cited by consumer groups to achieving that goal: a hidden tax the administration allows cable operators to impose on customers by forcing them to buy the services or packages they create to get access to the Internet. We are encouraged to hear the President set a national goal of affordable high-speed Internet for all, but unfortunately, he is not focusing on the most important policy change necessary to achieve that goal eliminating the hidden tax the administration allows cable operators to impose on consumers for broadband access, said Gene Kimmelman, public policy director of Consumers Union. Kimmelman is referring to the FCCs policy of allowing cable operators to charge customers $55 to $75 a month if customers want to use their own Internet Service Provider (ISP), rather than the provider selected by the cable company in their broadband cable package. About 13.7 million consumers currently receive their service from cable companies. Since 2001, the cost of buying the services that connect a cable customer to high-speed Internet access have increased three times the rate of inflation. This policy of allowing cable operators to force consumers to buy their services is absolutely contrary to the Presidents goal of offering consumers affordable Internet access, Kimmelman said. This Administration policy produces neither genuine consumer choice nor dynamic innovation, both of which are necessary to ensure affordable access to the Internet for all Americans. [SOURCE: Consumers Union Press Release]<http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_telecom_and_utilities/ 001013.html#more>
<http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/ 0330%20bush%20broadband%20response%202.pdf> Archives at: <http://Wireless.Com/Dewayne-Net> Weblog at: <http://weblog.warpspeed.com> ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
Current thread:
- PRESIDENT BUSH'S PLAN FOR AFFORDABLE BROADBAND ACCESS FAILS TO DEAL WITH REAL ISSUES: "HIDDEN TAX, LACK OF CHOICE Dave Farber (Apr 28)