AT&T rallies its workers, friends and families against open Internet rules
Filed under: Company News, Technology, AT&T
AT&T (T) is urging its store managers as well as their families and friends to oppose net neutrality, the hotly contested proposed federal rules that would prohibit broadband carriers from favoring their own content over competitors' programming.In a stunningly candid internal memo leaked onto the Internet, Jim Cicconi, AT&T's top lobbyist, urges U.S. AT&T store mangers "to join the voices telling the FCC not to regulate the Internet."
"Those who seek to impose extreme regulations on the network are flooding the site to influence the FCC," Cicconi warns, urging the company's 300,000 employees to organize their friends and families to oppose the new rules.
Cicconi urges AT&T managers and their families and friends to visit www.openinternet.gov and click on the "Join the Discussion" link.
He then offers a series of talking points including, "The 'net neutrality' rules as reported will jeopardize the very goals supported by the Obama administration that every American have access to high-speed Internet services no matter where they live or their economic circumstance."
This isn't the first time that corporate America has tried to rally its employees for a political cause, of course, but AT&T's letter is particularly bold.
An AT&T spokesperson confirmed the memo's authenticity to DailyFinance. "This was not a mandatory business request," the At&T spokesperson said. "We were providing important information to our employees, and it was up to them to respond personally."
Art Brodksy, a spokesperson for Public Knowledge, a Washington, D.C.-based pro-net neutrality group, blasted AT&T's tactics.
"It isn't bad enough that AT&T employees have to explain all those calls being dropped, or why their new data plans for the iPhone are more expensive than before, now they have to sell inaccurate and misleading information about Net Neutrality," Brodsky said. "Playing fair with consumers won't harm investment and won't cost jobs."
AT&T has opposed the rules proposed by new FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, which would prohibit broadband carriers from discriminating against rival content on their networks. On Monday, the leaders of the biggest internet companies in the world voiced their support for the rule, which the FCC is set to vote on this Thursday.
Here's the full letter:
TO: All U.S.-based managers
Over the last few weeks an extraordinary number of voices expressed concern over news reports that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is poised to regulate the Internet in a manner that would drive up consumer prices, and burden companies like ours while exempting companies like Google. According to The Washington Post, the FCC has received a dozen letters from Republican and Democratic governors, a letter signed by 18 Republican senators, and a letter sent by 72 Democratic members of Congress. In addition, letters expressing serious concerns were sent by many state legislators and minority groups, and our union partners, CWA and the IBEW.
We encourage you, your family and friends to join the voices telling the FCC not to regulate the Internet. It can be done through a personal email account by going to www.openinternet.gov and clicking on the "Join the Discussion" link.
The FCC has extended the period for receiving comments by allowing postings to its blog until Thursday, October 22nd. Those who seek to impose extreme regulations on the network are flooding the site to influence the FCC. It's now time for you to voice your opinion!
In addition to your own thoughts, any of the following points can be used when you develop your brief blog comments.
1. America's wireless consumers enjoy the broadest range of innovative services and devices, lowest prices, highest usage levels, and most choices in the world. Why disrupt a market that's working so well?
2. There is fierce competition for wireless and broadband customers. Competition drives innovation and encourages companies to develop products, services and applications that consumers want. There's been more innovation in this market than in any since the World Wide Web was introduced. The market is working for consumers. Don't burden it with unnecessarily harmful regulations.
3. Network companies have to be able to manage their networks to ensure the most economical and efficient use of bandwidth, and provide affordable broadband services for all users. Network management is essential for consumers to enjoy the benefits of new quality-sensitive applications and services. The FCC rules should not stop the promise of life-changing, cost-saving services such as telemedicine that depend on a managed network.
4. The "net neutrality" rules as reported will jeopardize the very goals supported by the Obama administration that every American have access to high-speed Internet services no matter where they live or their economic circumstance. That goal can't be met with rules that halt private investment in broadband infrastructure. And the jobs associated with that investment will be lost at a time when the country can least afford it.
5. The FCC shouldn't burden an industry that is bringing jobs and investment to the country, but if it is going to regulate the Internet it should do so fairly. The goal of the FCC should be to maintain a level playing field by treating all competitors the same. Any new rules should apply equally to network providers, search engines and other information services providers.
Thank you in advance for taking action that supports our customers, our company, and our country's commitment to ensure that every American has access to broadband.
Jim Cicconi
Senior Executive Vice President - External and Legislative Affairs
ATT
Over the last few weeks an extraordinary number of voices expressed concern over news reports that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is poised to regulate the Internet in a manner that would drive up consumer prices, and burden companies like ours while exempting companies like Google. According to The Washington Post, the FCC has received a dozen letters from Republican and Democratic governors, a letter signed by 18 Republican senators, and a letter sent by 72 Democratic members of Congress. In addition, letters expressing serious concerns were sent by many state legislators and minority groups, and our union partners, CWA and the IBEW.
We encourage you, your family and friends to join the voices telling the FCC not to regulate the Internet. It can be done through a personal email account by going to www.openinternet.gov and clicking on the "Join the Discussion" link.
The FCC has extended the period for receiving comments by allowing postings to its blog until Thursday, October 22nd. Those who seek to impose extreme regulations on the network are flooding the site to influence the FCC. It's now time for you to voice your opinion!
In addition to your own thoughts, any of the following points can be used when you develop your brief blog comments.
1. America's wireless consumers enjoy the broadest range of innovative services and devices, lowest prices, highest usage levels, and most choices in the world. Why disrupt a market that's working so well?
2. There is fierce competition for wireless and broadband customers. Competition drives innovation and encourages companies to develop products, services and applications that consumers want. There's been more innovation in this market than in any since the World Wide Web was introduced. The market is working for consumers. Don't burden it with unnecessarily harmful regulations.
3. Network companies have to be able to manage their networks to ensure the most economical and efficient use of bandwidth, and provide affordable broadband services for all users. Network management is essential for consumers to enjoy the benefits of new quality-sensitive applications and services. The FCC rules should not stop the promise of life-changing, cost-saving services such as telemedicine that depend on a managed network.
4. The "net neutrality" rules as reported will jeopardize the very goals supported by the Obama administration that every American have access to high-speed Internet services no matter where they live or their economic circumstance. That goal can't be met with rules that halt private investment in broadband infrastructure. And the jobs associated with that investment will be lost at a time when the country can least afford it.
5. The FCC shouldn't burden an industry that is bringing jobs and investment to the country, but if it is going to regulate the Internet it should do so fairly. The goal of the FCC should be to maintain a level playing field by treating all competitors the same. Any new rules should apply equally to network providers, search engines and other information services providers.
Thank you in advance for taking action that supports our customers, our company, and our country's commitment to ensure that every American has access to broadband.
Jim Cicconi
Senior Executive Vice President - External and Legislative Affairs
ATT
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-20-2009 @ 1:18PM
Bnefish26 said...
That's just what this country needs is some monopoly like att setting policy! Hell, even the republicrooks and republidiots (those not making ol' joe lumber's average $250,000 per) will lose in that kind of deal.
Reply
10-20-2009 @ 1:23PM
Frank said...
Anything that ATT supports this feverishly, I am automatically against. ATT is thinking only of the almight dollar and not freedom of speech here.
Reply
10-20-2009 @ 2:55PM
lyn said...
I agree with you Frank. AT$T is one of the most oppressive monopolies on the planet. You can bet that their "employee participation" is not "voluntary".
Note the title of the author on the memo; "governmental affairs". Graft and greed is so bad, no one, except a legislator on the take, wants to hear anything AT$T has to say. They have earned a well-deserved bad reputation with the consumer. It is their monopoly status that keeps them in business.
10-20-2009 @ 3:00PM
Sean said...
AT&T opposes this, they're not for it. Net neutral is good for the users, bad for the corps. Other countries have it. Again, we are behind the curve, like with so many other issues.
10-20-2009 @ 3:05PM
to rivers said...
I'm an AT&T manager and 95% of the people who come in complaining about their phones dropping calls rarely power cycle their phones-like the 2-3 times a week that is recommended for tower updates...and the iphone is the SAME price as a blackberry plan and hasn't gone up since the 3g model came out...nice try though
Reply
10-20-2009 @ 3:41PM
workers advocate said...
Little wonder we can't get service. The managers are busy fighting bad press on the net.
10-20-2009 @ 2:45PM
roman said...
Anything that ATT supports this feverishly, I am automatically against. ATT is thinking only of the almight dollar and not freedom of speech here.
I support the above statement. It holds not only true for AT&T but most large Corporation. They are out to bleed the consumer while the goverment is standing by.
Reply
10-20-2009 @ 4:28PM
Tim said...
Yeah, those rotten large corporations are so greedy, and yet, they employ so many hundreds of thousands of people. You people are idiots. As if the unemployment rate under our new Ruler is not high enough, you want more goverment intervention.
Just wait until it is your turn. When the big corporations are under goverment authority (oh that's right, some already are) your little companies will be the ones they turn on next. They will control your prices, salaries, bonuses, and benefits. Big goverment is not your friend. WIth more goverment everyone will be equal, equally poor. They cannot bring everyone up to the highest level; they must bring averyone down to the bottom. Just ask Cuba, Venezuala, Russia, Poland, the Czeck Rep., China, etc.
10-20-2009 @ 2:48PM
Dean said...
If AT&T is for something it can`t be good for the public.They would mugg their mother for a dollar.
Reply
10-20-2009 @ 3:07PM
Lyn said...
Ha Dean! What mother taught them how to mugg? MA Bell?
10-20-2009 @ 2:54PM
Lord Enki said...
You got to love it the Awakening, finally people are seeing through the BS
Reply
10-20-2009 @ 2:56PM
KELLI2L said...
The AT&T letter said: "The FCC rules should not stop the promise of life-changing, cost-saving services such as telemedicine that depend on a managed network."
However;
I've been hearing that some politicians and/or advisors of the Obama Administration don't think "Telemedicine" (on the internet) would be safe; they feel it could be dangerous. They politicians also wouldn't allow us to get cheaper meds from Canada a few years ago - for the same reason - so everyone else was benefitting but Americans. . . . . And now maybe we know why? They were making a deal with China to deal through Wal-Mart rather than Canadian companies......
So what do you suppose the politicians have in store for us with this issue - the truth never seems to be on the surface - there's always a hidden agenda........
Reply
10-25-2009 @ 10:14PM
Linneyob said...
You might want to check this website:
http://mccihealth.info/2009/07/04/legislation_telemedicine_1/
It doesn't sound like your comments are a factual. (But I suspect you don't really care...)
10-20-2009 @ 3:02PM
Lord Enki said...
They say for every ill there is a pill , wish someone could come up with a pill that cure for Washington's cranial rectal inversion.
Reply
10-20-2009 @ 3:18PM
lyn said...
Good one Enki; hold that thought! :)
10-20-2009 @ 3:30PM
HA said...
First it was anthrax, now someone has planted earwigs in their heads: excuses, excuses.
10-20-2009 @ 3:20PM
Daniel Lovejoy said...
AT&T (wireless) once told me that they didn't really care if I had lousy service. They only try to provide a good service, and if it doesn't happen, tough. As long as I pay my bill they really don't care about me as a customer.
I don't see them really caring about anything except the bottom line.
Reply
10-20-2009 @ 4:22PM
DRH said...
AT@T IS NOT A MONOPOLY. REMEBER THE GOVERNMENT BRIKE THEM UP AND MADE THEM ALL LITTLE SEPERATE COMPANIES AT THE DEMANDS OF THE PUBLIC THAT THEY WERE TOO BIG AND THEN THE PHONE LINE COST $4.85 A MONTH FOR BASIC SERVICE . GEE YOU ALL WANTED THEM BROKE UP AND YOU GOT IT. THEN SBC WENT AND BOUGHT UP THE COMPANIES THAT ARE MAKING MONEY AND WELLA NOW WHAT? CAN'T STOP THE COMPANY FROM DOING WHAT YOU WOULD DO TOO. AND MOST OF THE DROPPED CALLS ARE FROM DIPPOS DRIIVING IN A VALLY OR TUNNEL AND WONDERING WHY CAPTAIN KIRK CAN'T BEAM THEM UP.
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10-20-2009 @ 5:29PM
Ed said...
AT&T IS JUST MAD BECAUSE VERIZON IS LARGER
IN CELL& 3g NETWORKS. i CAN'T GET A SIGNAL WITH
AT&T AT MY HOUSE, AND i HAVE ONE. SO I HAD TO GET A PREPAID VERIZON PHONE, IN CASE I BREAK DOWN BEFORE i CAN GET THERE SIGNAL.
AND THEY MUST NOT BE GETTING ANY ROAMING ON
SOME OF THERE TOWERS EITHER, OR THEY WOULD
BE AS LARGE AS THEY ARE.
ITS TIME THE FLAT RATES FOR ALL THE CALLING AND 3G YOU WANT FOR $20.00 A MONTH~~~
Reply
10-20-2009 @ 11:23PM
Kurt said...
GIVING ALL THAT MONEY TO THE ANTI-GUN PEOPLE
LIKE YOU DID A FEW YEARS BACK IS COMING BACK TO BITE YOU IN THE BACKSIDE.
OH BY THE WAY I QUIT DRINKING PEPSI TOO
Reply