Wolves Attack the Internet

[helderheid]

We're giving you a first look at a new report we are releasing today: Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: Telecom Industry Front Groups and Astroturf.

http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=1499059&auid=1529514

This report uncovers the stealth groups set up by the telecommunications industry to fool Congress into thinking there is public support for legislation that primarily serves the interests of the telecom giants.

As the report says: "These sorts of campaigns are dangerous for our democracy. They deliberately mislead citizens and they deliberately mislead our lawmakers, who are already charged with the difficult task of making sense of complex telecommunications policies."

The Wall Street Journal today (subscription required) wrote about the report in a major story: "A number of lobbying groups that claim to represent consumer interests are backed by phone and cable companies promoting their corporate agendas, according to a report from consumer group Common Cause."

This will be the first in a series of three reports - the next reports will focus on the telecoms' advertising campaigns and campaign contributions. If you've seen telecom ads that strike you as misleading or false, tell us about it on our blog.

Thank you for all you do for Common Cause.

Sincerely,

The Common Cause Media Reform Team
Lauren Coletta, Celia Wexler, and Dawn Holian

P.S. Earlier this month, we asked for support for our media reform efforts, and many responded with generous donations. This support allows young, talented staffers like Dawn Holian, who wrote this report, to do even more to keep up the pressure on Congress to do the right thing when they take up telecommunications legislation: http://www.commoncause.org/SupportMediaReform.

[rman]

1. I'm surprised

this is being covered by The Wall Street Journal.

[acmejack]

3. The story there was Common Cause picking up on the fact.

That was newsworthy to the class to whom the WSJ is marketed. We the People aren't supposed to catch on to these counter intelligence operations that they perpetrate against us.

[blogslut]

2. kicked

and nominated

[helderheid]

4. thank you!

[lala_rawraw]

5. they are doing much the same with faux journalists and bloggers

who are really operatives set up to discredit stories that look bad for their people. it is outrageous really, and Congress buys into this crap as do people on the left who buy into left looking bloggers and journalists... also, you might want to add phony environmentalist groups and phony election reform groups. actually, can we start a running list of faux groups and organizations, writers and so forth in each category? like the BBB has a record of questionable businesses listed, we should do the same. or i may be in need of a nap and think the psychos are taking over... any thoughts on this suggestion?

[lpbk2713]

6. The only thing that has changed is telecomm's focus.

They have always had a strong lobby because as a regulated monopoly they were dependent on the state and federal agencies for their rate increases. Even before the breakup of AT&T they were always quaranteed a profit by law and they still are. Whatever they couldn't get by wining and dining the regulators they would get by shaping public opinion. Nothing changes but the changes. And now that the NSA wants to listen in on our phone conversations there has to be some consideration given to the telcos by the feds that no one is supposed to know about. I think Orwell's 1984 arrived a little late, but it's here now.

K&R

[Nikki Stone1]

7. K &R

:kick:

[jasmeel]

8. I think I got an email from one of these guys! They wanted me

to write someone to complain that I couldn't get cable ala carte. I didn't do it and couldn't understand why I'd want to??

[helderheid]

9. interesting!

[stickdog]

10. Thanks. (nt)

[GoneOffShore]

11. Have to keep the wolves from the wires

:kick:

http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=...

Come on folks let's keep this up at the top of the boards.

Mods, any chance of getting this pinned?

[Uncle Joe]

12. Kicked. n/t