| Verizon put out a press release today titled: “Verizon Sets the Record Straight on Cablevision's False Advertising Campaign; Calls on Cable Monopoly to Step Aside and Allow Cable Choice and Competition for Consumers to Flourish in New Jersey�
Surly I’m not the only one who sees the irony in this. Verizon, and all the telcos for that matter, want to have their cake and eat it too and they are none too embarrassed to say so in public.
A Taste Of Their Own Medicine
Verizon says: An ad published yesterday in the Asbury Park Press, as well as radio ads being broadcast on WKXW-FM and other radio stations around the state, use scare-tactics and distortions to lobby for legislation that would protect Cablevision's cable-TV monopoly.
In an apparent effort to cloak Cablevision's involvement, the ads note
that the sponsor is CSC Holdings. However, CSC Holdings is the operator of Cablevision Systems Inc.
Verizon and the telcos are the kings of Astroturf, that is “cloaking� their involvement with ads or faxes, and they have the gal to call out a competitor for using the same tactics.
Hello, Can you hear yourself now?
The presser continues: "It's time for Cablevision to step aside and allow true competition flourish in New Jersey," said Dennis Bone, president of Verizon New Jersey.
This could easily be re-written: "It's time for Verizon to step aside and allow true competition flourish in New Jersey,"
Verizon’s plans for the internet are anti-competition and anti-consumer.
They continue: "The consumers throughout the state have clearly spoken: They want choice and competition, and they want it now," said Bone.
Yes! Yes we want choice and competition. We want the choice to invest in municipal Wi-Fi if we choose, we want the choice to have A La Carte Cable service and we most definitely want the choice to use our fiber broadband connections any way we want.
What do we want?
More from the press release: In May, both the state Senate and Assembly overwhelmingly approved legislation that will streamline New Jersey's antiquated, anti-consumer video franchise rules. In a procedural move, the Senate is required to vote again, and that vote could come next week. “We encourage members of the Legislature and the governor to focus on the many benefits of the video franchise legislation," said Bone. "With it, New Jerseyans all over the state will soon benefit from cable choice and competition.�
To the Senate members and Governor Corzine I say follow Verizon’s advice and voice your concerns over competition. Voice you concerns about Network Neutrality and how it is bad for competition in New Jersey. This issue needs to be addressed and New Jersey is the best place to address it. |
