Statement of Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich On The Telecommunications Bill
Washington,
Jun 8, 2006 -
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement today on H.R. 5252 -Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006, also known as, the Telecommunications Bill:
“Never have consumers benefited from monopolies, much less government created monopolies.
“Yet, once again, Congress has opened its doors to the highest bidder, created new super monopolies, and left consumers on the losing end.
“This bill will strip out what little federal protections exist allowing the telecommunication monopolies to expanded into absolute oligopolies. Just as the deregulation of the electricity market failed, the deregulation of the telecommunications industry will also fail.
“This bill will allow cable operators to cherry pick their service areas, leaving low-income and other minority communities with inferior service and higher cable rates.
“This bill will also turn back the clock on the internet, stripping consumers of the most basic of freedoms. By defeating attempts to create ‘network neutrality’ this bill will allow the telecommunication monopolies to control content, and access to content on the internet. That power can and will be abused to protect their profits.
“The telecommunications act passed this evening by the House will cause cable and internet rates to rise, decrease access to service for the poor, and quash political speech and diversity on the internet.
“At a time of tremendous advances in audio, video, and voice technologies, today, the House is turning back the clock on progress and fairness and returning to the days of super monopolies.”
###