AT&T may face new regulations if Democrats win in November

[Robbien]

Source: Dallas News

WASHINGTON – AT&T has a lot riding on November.

With deep ties to Republicans, the Dallas-based telecom giant faces potentially unwelcome regulations if Democrats boost their majority in Congress and Barack Obama wins the presidency. From reforming telephone subsidies to guaranteeing an "open" Internet, Democrats favor many ideas opposed by AT&T Inc.

. . .

Google and AT&T are likely to continue to spar at the FCC and on Capitol Hill, where Google has struck up alliances with many Democrats. "Both of them are looking in the future and saying, 'Who is a threat to me?' " said Blair Levin, a telecom analyst for Stifel Nicolaus and a former FCC chief of staff.

AT&T is counting on Republicans, along with some Texas Democrats, to counter the message of network neutrality proponents.

Unlike many corporations that have shifted their political giving to Democrats, AT&T has maintained its GOP loyalty. AT&T's political action committee has donated about $460,000 more to congressional Republicans than Democrats since 2007, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

. . .

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin has proposed a major reform to regulations that govern access fees and universal phone service. The proposal, which comes in response to a court order and satisfies many of AT&T's concerns, is scheduled for a vote at the FCC's Nov. 4 meeting.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/stories/101908dnbusat&tlobby.3138020.html

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The long article outlines what is at stake and how telecommunications would differ under Dem rather than GOP rule.

[sarcasmo]

1. One of the many reasons to vote Obama 08.

[Sub Atomic]

2. Good. I hope an investigation into why they tapped phones

without a warrant should be in full order.

[Kalifornia.Kid]

3. A long time ago in a government not so far, far away...."

[tsuki]

4. Cannot be too soon. nt

[gtar100]

5. As a telecommunications worker, I say "Good!!

They can't be trusted with a deregulated market.

[Wednesdays]

6. Awww...

:nopity:

[FreakinDJ]

7. We need to break up that Monopoly - again

[toopers]

15. There is no monopoly to break up . . .

EOM

[amendment2liberal]

8. Religious Reich oppurtunity hole

Believe it or not, I am probably one of the few here who is open to saying this, but I am somewhat confused about Net Neutrality and I think most of us should learn more about it before jumping on the bandwagon. As of now I tend to support it because my understanding is that it would keep the Net the same as it always was, but on the other hand I worry that it could open the door to further Internet regulation, and I think we all know what the Religious Reich would use the ability to regulate the Internet for. To be blunt: in principle I support Net Neutrality but I worry about government having any control of the Internet because of what social conservative forces will do; they may not get their way now but remember that after Obama there will be other Republican administrations.

[hedgehog]

9. You mean to say that my vote actually will change the way this country is run?

:woohoo:


It sounds like the Democratic Party has been taken over by the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party!

[MasonJar]

10. I cancelled AT&T. I cannot believe everyone hasn't. Go Dems!

[TxBlue]

11. I would except I like the iphone and the others are bad too

[Piewhacket]

12. It won't help. ATT is gouing to gett &^%$##'ed with a pole.

But Kevin Martin is probably looking for a nice hidey hole
somewhere in a supremacist enclave deep in Idaho.

What's the delay Martin, waiting for housing prices to drop?

[slackmaster]

13. The Death Star has gone too far

I always liked the old Bell System logo better.

[HopeHoops]

14. And this would be a problem because...