Verizon and AT&T Accused of Being Threats to Democracy

[MindMover]

AUSTIN, Texas—Just two companies—Verizon Wireless and AT&T—control 60 percent of the U.S. wireless market. Four companies control 90 percent. A thriving marketplace this is not. And while the lack of competition partly explains why cell phone service in the U.S. is slower, less reliable and more expensive than in other developed countries, a perhaps more important reason is that the Federal Communications Commission, the federal agency tasked with protecting the rights and interests of consumers, chose to neuter itself a decade ago.

Unfortunately, the stakes are higher for the U.S. than just lousy service and exorbitant bills. The current state of affairs threatens the ability of citizens to speak freely in a democracy.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2012/03/13/verizon-and-att-accused-of-being-threats-to-democracy/

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No competition in a democracy limits freedom.......

[drm604]

1. K&R

This is an important issue.

[liberalhistorian]

2. Maybe this explains why I've never been able

to call into NPR programs on my AT&T cell phone no matter where I am or which number I use. It always just says "error in call"; in no other call do I get that message. I would never have chosen AT&T voluntarily, but it bought out the remaining Alltel phones in my state; Alltel, in turn, had bought out Cellular One several years ago, the originator of my phone. I wonder what they'd say if I called and asked them directly why I can't seem to reach NPR no matter where I am or when I try.

[JDPriestly]

3. Our economy lacks meaningful competition because big corporations have corrupted

our government by buying our politicians.

The item about how Gaddaffi funded Sarkozy's presidential campaign in France in 2007 (in latest breaking news) made me wonder how much of the campaign contributions to our candidates is actually laundered money from the Middle East and other wealthy areas of the world.

[woo me with science]

4. +1

[emsimon33]

5. Day 9--no Internet thanks to the Godless, lying bastards at AT&T

I work out of my home on the Internet. Right now I am outside my closed Starbucks (thank God for Starbucks) freezing in my car!

AT&T is the only option in my area. They lie. They are incompetent.

The Internet should be a public utility, not some golden goose for greedy and incompetent corporations.

We have among the worse Internet speeds in the world and the worse service.

OCCUPY THE INTERNET! Take the Internet back from the corporations! I HATE AT&T!!!!!!!!!!!!!