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SF-554 Corporate Welfare for Billion Dollar Baby-Bells?

Dick Armey{1} who lost control in Washington in November stated last week that "Special interests are always looking for ways to benefit at the expense of the public at large." Armey spearheaded special-interest legislation nearly every day of his political office. His sudden democratic epiphany:: He's become a Telcom-Lobbyist and is talking the talk of how Cables [MediaCom] is just too big for Telcoms [Qwest] to compete with without sacrificing the public access medium.

However, the seemly repentant Armey does makes an excellent point. When huge corporate interests converge in Des Moines preaching about consumer protection, it's time to check your hip pocket.

Not much media attention on the multi-billion-dollar welfare of the Telcoms. Future build outs and trillions of dollars are at stake in Des Moines. Some of it up front but a lot of lobbying going on behind the scenes. Millions of Iowans, each spending hundreds of dollars per month to access their bandwidth are soon to go for an expensive ride. Well-funded Telcom lobbyists are twisting the arms of legislators to allow corporate welfare at the expense of the peoples right to access their franchise of the public bandwidth. The playing field is ripe with misinformation. Misdirection is essential to create spin. Without considerable pondering it's work to decipher the truth: but even recent arrivals on the turnip truck can sense SF 554 is not about consumer protection.

The fight is about who gets to run the wires into your home that bring bandwidth for VVD [voice, video, and data] if it is Cable or Fiber-Optic and if any standards of net-neutrality and service standard regulation will remain a part of our social contract. Qwest can not be bothered with serving the needs of every little community in a rural state. Qwest will only Charter through a process less complicated than buying an ice cream cone. Repeating the word “competition” as if it were some political incantation. Cable fulfills its corporate duty to support the non-commercial medium. De-regulation of the information system is Un-ethical, Un-patriotic, and Un-American.

Specifically, Qwest wants a competitive business climate where nobody — and they mean absolutely nobody — can force Qwest to run wire into every neighborhood or rural area,--if it doesn't want to. That's what SF554 Fast-track franchising bill says. Under current law the net-neutral concept of providing service everywhere is called "build-out." and a part of our law. With SF-554 many aspects of net-neutrality will be replaced with a single concept of selecting only wealthy markets: called “red lining” also referred to as "cherry-picking." Not a good way to start an information age.

Other goodies vaguely phrased away in the nooks and crannies of this bill are invasive consumer-predator clauses like: the telephone company can plop a pole in your front yard without asking the property owner. Think you have a legitimate complaint? Under current Iowa law communities have capacity to rectify such a scenario: some communities even regulate rates and levy fines for non-compliance. With SF554 Communities will only be authorized to listen. Communities [if this bill is passed] shall be prohibited from levying any punitive action upon errant Telcom behavior.

Who benefits from this kind of Competition? What are the possible motivations at work here? The same bill put forth by Sen Ted Stevens (AK) for the Telcom industry [written by a smart group calling itself ALEC] FAILED last term in Congress so Telcoms remodeled the very same bill and initiated similar action in 38 states all at once. Telcoms have spent more money in lobbyists and campaign donations to subvert the modernization of Iowa's public infrastructure: than if they had simply supported our communities by entering the market 10 years ago with fiber-optic like they promised. Instead, Telcoms have been laying in wait a decade for this to pass.

Iowans have a right to be outraged with Statehouse sponsored corporate welfare and profiteering. I witnessed in Des Moines how some of the lobbyists retained to push SF554 have a hard time keeping a straight face when they talk about competition and lower consumer prices. And, of course, the legislation doesn't guarantee lower prices for television, the Internet or telephone service. Qwest claims they only want to save you money. Remember the deregulations of 10 years ago how the fierce cost competition of VVD- voice, video and data would offer complete packages of under $30? Telcoms were not truthful then and they defy logic now. It is not too late to email those we have sent to represent us in Des Moines. But you better hurry as SF554 is likely to come to a vote this week. And if Chet signs this one into law, you can use all your saved money to invest in a lovely, lighted, traffic-free bridge across the Mississippi I'm willing to sell you, cheap. The sad comedy is that your children will be far better off with the bridge.

Please send your posts to: Bandwidth@iciaus.com

Local Control Protects Consumer Rights
	Local governments make sure that all areas in the community are serviced equally and that customer complaints are heard and resolved locally.

Constitutional Amendment Assuring the Right to unspun, factual information!

Local control guarantees taxpayers fair market value for the private use of their public rights-of-way. Did you know that nationally taxpayers own over $11 trillion worth of public property in the form of streets and sidewalks? The Big Telecoms want a free ride to use these public rights of way. The only thing that stands in their way is local government. Local governments ensure that: Taxpayers receive fair compensation for the use of their public property. Any damages caused by the Big Telecoms to streets and roadways are properly and timely repaired. Disruptions from duplicative installations are minimized.

Local control gives back to the community.
	Local governments use franchise fee revenues to help fund public services such as police, fire, schools, and community media centers.

If the media will not inform you then you best inform yourself.
	Local governments make sure residents continue to get access to public, education and government (PEG) channels. PEG channels broadcast community building programming such as adult education courses, government services information, and events like parades and high school sports.

VVD Providers MUST pay the rent AND offer every deed-holder in the municipality a chance to connect in and communicate
	Local control over the franchising process means that the Big Telecoms have to play by the rules. This means: Fair compensation for the private use of public rights-of-way. Cable services for all residents, not just to a select few. No “cherry-picking” of customers allowed! Proper repair of streets and roadways that get damaged by the Big Telecoms.

IOWANS CREATING STRONG CITIZEN MEDIA
	Continued and ENHANCED availability of IOWA Public, Education, and Government I(PEG) access channels is to become the #1 place to begin the legislative session. Consider joining us in protecting your rights. http://ipeg.iciaus.com YOUR number ONE on our dial.