Politicians are supporting Comcast's TWC merger with letters ghostwritten by Comcast

[Victorious Secret]

Documents reveal the cozy relationship between lobbyists, officials, and the FCC

 

 

Well, well, well. What do we have here? More collusion between Comcast, TWC and the FCC? Say it ain't so! If you've been wondering who actually supported Comcast in this and how anyone could, rest easy. Most people probably aren't. 

 

Comcast has been busy drumming up ghost letters without the "authors" approval on any level what so ever, and everyone has been turning a blind eye to this because support is  support and I imagine someone at the FCC got their share of "support" to allow these "support" to be considered valid. 

Naughty, naughty Comcast. 

As a forum, especially our US residents, we should care more about a situation like this. If people were to be so invested in a scenario like this as they are in other manners affecting this site, imagine how powerful a message we could send to those in charge that we will not go quietly into that good night. 

 

On August 21st, 2014, Mayor Jere Wood of Roswell, Georgia, sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission expressing emphatic support for Comcast’s controversial effort to merge with Time Warner Cable. Not only did the mayor’s letter express personal excitement for the gargantuan deal — which critics say will create a monopoly that will harm millions of consumers — but it also claimed that the entire town of Roswell adored Comcast. "When Comcast makes a promise to act, it is comforting to know that they will always follow through," Wood's letter explained. "This is the type of attitude that makes Roswell proud to be involved with such a company," the letter asserts, "our residents are happy with the services it has provided and continues to provide each day.”

 

Yet Wood’s letter made one key omission: Neither Wood nor anyone representing Roswell’s residents wrote his letter to the FCC. Instead, a vice president of external affairs at Comcast authored the missive word for word in Mayor Wood's voice. According to email correspondence obtained through a public records request, the Republican mayor’s office apparently added one sign-off sentence and his signature to the corporate PR document, then sent it to federal regulators on the official letterhead of Roswell, Georgia.

 

http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/26/7878239/comcast-twc-fcc-merger-letters-politicians-ghostwritten

[Guest Kloaked]

WHAT THE FUCK

 

I emailed our government (I live in Georgia) about the net neutrality stuff late last year and they sent me sensible responses about how they're not for anything that is anti-consumer, even if that means opposing fast lanes and getting something done about how the ISP's are short-sticking the consumer as well as holding Netflix's customers hostage.

 

This is insane.

 

Again, WHAT THE FUCK

[TheSLSAMG]

WHAT THE FUCK

 

I emailed our government (I live in Georgia) about the net neutrality stuff late last year and they sent me sensible responses about how they're not for anything that is anti-consumer, even if that means opposing fast lanes and getting something done about how the ISP's are short-sticking the consumer as well as holding Netflix's customers hostage.

 

This is insane.

 

Again, WHAT THE FUCK

It's politics, I've come to expect shit like this. This mayor is the mayor of that town though, and his ideas might not reflect the ideas of other mayors in Georgia.

[Toddwjp]

why do american politicians even bother pretending they represent american people

[Guest Kloaked]

It's politics, I've come to expect shit like this. This mayor is the mayor of that town though, and his ideas might not reflect the ideas of other mayors in Georgia.

 

I hope it's just that one guy. I don't know how people are in denial about this issue.

[zappian]

Im sorry i dont understand a lot about american companies but woundlt that be  HUGE monopoly and break like 100 fucking anti monopoly laws?

[NateGSR117]

Holy smokes Batman, Hush is part of Comcast now.

[TheSLSAMG]

Im sorry i dont understand a lot about american companies but woundlt that be  HUGE monopoly and break like 100 fucking anti monopoly laws?

It being a monopoly would mean that they are the only company left doing what they do IIRC, and I believe it has to be proven that there was foul play as a conspiracy to kill their competitors. Verizon FiOS aren't going anywhere, neither are Cablevision, AT&T's Uverse, Google's Fiber (small as of now, but of course they're looking to expand), Charter or many more. They are however the two largest IIRC, so there's far more controversy around this than there was with the proposed T-Mobile-Sprint merger and the completed Sprint-Nextel merger.

[Guest Kloaked]

Im sorry i dont understand a lot about american companies but woundlt that be  HUGE monopoly and break like 100 fucking anti monopoly laws?

 

We live in a land where companies with enough money can lobby for those laws to not apply to them.

[zappian]

We live in a land where companies with enough money can lobby for those laws to not apply to them.

 

Thats disgusting

[Trik'Stari]

YAAAY oligopoly.

 

Just let the fucking zombie apocalypse/ww3 come already. Just let it happen so the stupid can die off, and maybe the intelligent can live and rebuild society.

 

If I had the button from Escape from LA, the *destroy all electronic equipment on the planet* button, I'd probably press it at this point.

[bob345]

"We support this merger, it is a great thing. Also, please disregard the inconspicuous truckloads of cash being dumped at our private office." -polititions 2k15

[zacRupnow]

I give you all the Comcast memes.

 

[Darkman]

I love Ron Swanson... And this gif is perfect.

[Biggerisbetter]

why do american politicians even bother pretending they represent american people

because stupid and dumb people believe what politicians have to say. they suck it up like manna from heaven

[Trik'Stari]

because stupid and dumb people believe what politicians have to say. they suck it up like manna from heaven

Sadly true.

 

I've gotten to the point that I will not vote again, unless it's a state vote. At least that somewhat tries to pretend to be legitimate. But as far as I am concerned, the federal government is now rogue, operating completely outside the spirit of the law, and outside the support of the american people. Every single member of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches deserves a life sentence in jail, if not exile. If exile, every single person related to them, and in league with them has to join them.

 

And I don't care if that exile is to an island with no food or water, fuck them.

[KungPaoChino]

America, the place where stupid people vote for people that do more harm than good.

 

Well... some politicians aren't corrupt. Some....

[TheGosuStandard]

Politics and lying go hand in hand. Only way to get to the top.

[Albatross]

At this rate the merger will happen.

 

why do american politicians even bother pretending they represent american people

 

Because there are enough stupid people who believe they do and that they care.

[Yog]

Because there are enough stupid people who believe they do and that they care.

I don't even think that's true. I think most people vote one of two ways: either they vote for what they consider the "lesser of two evils" or they vote for a guy they don't necessarily agree with but think has a higher chance of winning against the opposing party. Kind of similar thinking. The first one implies there's no good candidate. The second one implies there is a good candidate but our country is too polarized to pick him/her so they go for moderate.

 

And then there's the group of people who believe anything their party of choice throws at them...I'd like to think that's not that large of a group but I'm too afraid to consider otherwise.

[Albatross]

I don't even think that's true. I think most people vote one of two ways: either they vote for what they consider the "lesser of two evils" or they vote for a guy they don't necessarily agree with but think has a higher chance of winning against the opposing party. Kind of similar thinking. The first one implies there's no good candidate. The second one implies there is a good candidate but our country is too polarized to pick him/her so they go for moderate.

 

And then there's the group of people who believe anything their party of choice throws at them...I'd like to think that's not that large of a group but I'm too afraid to consider otherwise.

 

No.

 

Look at the majority of Obama supports and listen to what they say for example. They actually think he and the democrats are honest and want to help them.

 

As for the last thing you said, that's basically the same thing. They believe whatever their party or politicians tell them because they are stupid.

[Dabombinable]

No.

 

Look at the majority of Obama supports and listen to what they say for example. They actually think he and the democrats are honest and want to help them.

 

As for the last thing you said, that's basically the same thing. They believe whatever their party or politicians tell them because they are stupid.

What's just as bad is short term memory, our government (Australian) promised us a NBN using fibre optics, that got quietly downgraded to 'copper to homes', and now it seems to have been forgotten completely. Politicians, f****ing us over since 500BC.

[Syntaxvgm]

I just face-keyboarded.

It's a model m, so it really hurt. Not doing that again. 

[Victorious Secret]

No.

Look at the majority of Obama supports and listen to what they say for example. They actually think he and the democrats are honest and want to help them.

As for the last thing you said, that's basically the same thing. They believe whatever their party or politicians tell them because they are stupid.

Oh please, let's not turn this into a political nonsense fest, as if the Republicans are any better or worse than the Democrats in the nonsense they peddle to the masses.

Same BS, different party colours. That's all the 2 party system is these days.

[Albatross]

Oh please, let's not turn this into a political nonsense fest, as if the Republicans are any better or worse than the Democrats in the nonsense they peddle to the masses.

Same BS, different party colours. That's all the 2 party system is these days.

 

It is valid considering the discussion we are in. If you do not like it, don't read it or respond.

 

And do tell how me how you came about thinking you knew where I stood when it comes to the other political parties. Oh, and one person doing a wrong or being evil doesn't excuse the other person's evils or wrong doings.