U.S. PIRG Consumer Blog: Media reform groups disappointed in latest telecom effort

We joined 17 media reform groups in a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee criticizing its latest staff draft of a more Baby Bell-friendly, less-consumer friendly, less competition-friendly, less net neutrality-friendly telecom rewrite. While we like the bill's section recognizing the right of local communities to provide community broadband services, free from the intervention of state governments, the rest of it is weaker than the first draft, especially its capitulation on net neutrality, which threatens the open, democratic Internet. The committee held a hearing today. Gene Kimmelman of Consumers Union provided consumer testimony, which we endorse.

From the letter:

Policies that do not respond to the public interest, but instead serve special interests, will inhibit economic development, hinder efforts to expand equality of opportunity for all citizens, and stunt economic competitiveness and innovation.

Groups signing our letter include: Alliance for Community Media, Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers, CCTV Center for Media and Democracy, Center for Creative Voices in Media, Center for Digital Democracy, Common Cause, Consumer Project on Technology, Deep Dish TV, Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting, Free Press, Future of Music Coalition, Hawaii Consumers, Media Access Project, Media Democracy Chicago, National Hispanic Media Coalition, The Peoples Channel, and U.S. PIRG.