Teletruth In the News 2002-2004

This is a sample of articles. For a full collection of information about Teletruth or New Networks Institute see a search engine, such as http://www.yahoo.com or http://www.google.com. Also, please note that the links to many articles have been archived and require a customer account (and payment.) Because of copyright issues, we do not post these articles at our site.

ABC News, Pittsburgh, November 15th, 2004
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/money/3920162/detail.html
Wendy Bell: Get Back Money on Your Phone Bills
Phone bills are so confusing that sometimes we don't even know what we're paying for, yet we pay anyway.

Miami Herald, September 19, 2004
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/9694819.htm
A call to phone companies: Stop charging odd fees

ISP Planet, September 17, 2004
http://www.isp-planet.com/politics/2004/voip_war.html
VoIP Battleground in RBOC Monopoly War
"The Bells have mostly succeeded in closing their networks to ISPs. The next step in the monopoly war is being fought right now, as the Bells seek the right to close their networks to all non-Bell applications."

Wall Street Journal, Sept 13th, 2004
(subscription required)
"Outside the Lines"

Network World Fusion, August 18, 2004
http://www.nwfusion.com/edge/news/2004/0818icf.html
Carrier group seeks fee overhaul
"Instead of getting rid of intrinsic problems, they're just raising rates," says TeleTruth Chairman Bruce Kushnick.

The Associated Press, (ran in 60 newspapers, including Miami Herald, Forbes, and the Asbury Park Press) Monday, Pittsburgh Post Gazzette, August 16, 2004
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04229/362300.stm
Consumer advocates: Hang up on leased phones
"Allibone, the consultant who also works for TeleTruth, a telecommunications industry watchdog, studied his friend Betty Jane Hunt's bill and spotted the lease charge. He said consumers were "very easily confused and deceptively confused" by the industry."

 New York Post, May 2, 2004
http://www.nypost.com (Requires an Account)

Phone Cos. Ringing Up Big Charges$

Call them what you will - fees, surcharges, add-ons - the intention is always the same. Masquerading as taxes, nibbling your checkbook, they pad the profits of companies too cowardly to ask for the money up front.

 

WABC News, New York, April, 2004
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/7onyourside/wabc_7onyourside_042004phonebill.html

Deal Sound Good? Take a Close Look at the Fine Print

When was the last time you took a good look at your phone bill? One woman found that the fine print that was costing her money. She needed Tappy Phillips and Seven On Her Side. See Bruce Kushnick, Chairman, talk about phone bill charges.

 

Star Ledger, April 20, 2004
(requires a signup)

Verizon offers to settle bill errors with businesses,

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said Tom Allibone, director of auditing for Teletruth, a consumer advocacy group that assisted the plaintiffs in the case. "This is a simple example of how their billing system doesn't work."

"Beyond the 50,000 identified business customers who are due credits or refunds, there may be others who were improperly charged because of the same billing error, Skalet said. They have yet to be identified because many of Verizon's old billing records have been destroyed, he said.

 

Kansas City Star, Mar. 07, 2004
(Requires an Account)

Forgetting about fees, taxes when comparing plans

Don't believe the advertising - especially if you are calculating your household's telephone budget.Phone companies notoriously add scads of extra charges and taxes to customer bills, meaning that what sounded like a good deal when you heard it advertised on television winds up making a major dent in your wallet once the final bill has been tallied.Consumer Action, a San Francisco-based nonprofit agency, estimates that fees and taxes can add up to 15 percent to a phone bill.

 

ISP Planet, February 9, 2004
Is The Phone Company Overcharging You?

Birmingham, Mich.-based Invivo is not the only organization to notice that telcos aren't always honest about what they charge their customers. The activist association TeleTruth, for example, is currently fighting a fierce battle in Pennsylvania, where it is trying to unite independent ISPs and angry taxpaying consumers.

 

America's Network Weekly, December 8, 2003
TELETRUTH SEEKS POWELL'S TELEPHONE RECORDS

Public interest group TeleTruth filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Federal Communications Commission last week, seeking, among other items, Chairman Michael Powell's telephone records from January 1 through August 21.

 

The Bergen Record, August 24, 2003
Fiber-optic lines could deliver the Internet in a flash

"The idea that these guys will actually compete with the cable company?" says Bruce Kushnick, president of market research firm New Networks Institute. "We might as well wait for Godot."

 

Newsday, August 23rd, 2003

This Time, Cell Phones Woes, Failures in outage reveal weaknesses

"There should be a reliability test that these guys should pass," said Bruce Kushnick, chairman of TeleTruth, a telecommunications consumer advocacy organization based in Manhattan.

 

Broadband Reports –Feature, June 16th, 2003
http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/29373
Broadband Reports: Interview Bruce Kushnick, Teletruth Chairman Written by Karl Bode, Bruce Kushnick has been dubbed everything from the "Leading Visionary in the Telecom Industry" to another "Bitter Bell Critic"; but what's certain is that nobody in the industry is ignoring him.

 

USA Today, Kevin Maney, 6/03/03
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kevinmaney/2003-06-03-peabody_x.htm

Mr. Peabody and Sherman try to save future of telecom
We have discovered the lost 92nd episode of Peabody's Improbable History, in which Peabody and Sherman meddle with historical events to make sure they turn out right. In this one, our boys turn to telecom.,

 

ISP Planet, June 2, 2003
http://www.isp-planet.com/politics/2003/fcc_petition.html

Telecom & ISP Advocacy Groups Petition FCC , With industry-altering changes looming on the federal regulatory horizon, ISPs and CLECs are striving to make their voices heard in the high-level policy debate.

 

Fox News, New York, May 13, 2003
http://www.teletruth.org/movies/bruce4Mb.mov (4 mg video file)
Phonebill issues and Problems on Phonebills.

Forbes Magazine
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2003/0512/082.html
Shortchanged, "The Baby Bells may have bilked consumers out of billions by inflating the cost of their networks. Regulators seem content to overlook the matter., Scott Woolley, 05.12.03

Philadelphia Inquirer
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/5210654.htm

Consumers are owed $2 billion, group says Verizon is not meeting its end of a deal on broadband, it says. Speeds of 45 megabits per second were promised by Akweli Parker, posted Wed. Feb. 19th, 2003

Broadband Reports: Recent Coverage of Teletruth.
Jun 02 03
FCC Gets an Earful
May 28 03
Bigger, Faster, Stronger
May 14 03
One Man's Telco War
May 01 03
Battling the Baby Bells
Apr 18 03
High Speed Hype?

Associated Press
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/business/s_119431.html

Group says Verizon reaped $2 billion from false promises

TeleTruth's chairman, Bruce Kushnick, said Verizon pulled off a "bait and switch" when it promised public utility commissioners that it would build a high…
Pittsburgh Tribune Review, PA - 19 Feb 2003
Miami Herald, FL
- 19 Feb 2003
Penn Live, PA
- 19 Feb 2003
Wichita Eagle, KS - 19 Feb 2003
Kansas City Star, MO - 19 Feb 2003

 

Associated Press
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Business/ap20030212_2175.html

Consumer Group Seek's SEC probe of Verizon

ABC News - 12 Feb 2003
Parsippany Daily Record, NJ
- 13 Feb 2003
Hilton Head Island Packet, SC - 12 Feb 2003
Raleigh News, NC
- 12 Feb 2003
Newsday - 12 Feb 2003
Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA - 12 Feb 2003
San Jose Mercury News, CA - 12 Feb 2003
San Francisco Chronicle, CA - 12 Feb 2003
Austin American Statesman, TX - 12 Feb 2003
Miami Herald, FL - 12 Feb 2003
Times Daily, AL - 12 Feb 2003
Boston.com, MA - 12 Feb 2003
Springfield News Sun, OH - 12 Feb 2003
Times Daily, AL - 12 Feb 2003
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL - 12 Feb 2003
Lakeland Ledger, FL - 12 Feb 2003

DSLReports

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/26350

Did Verizon Scam Pennsylvania? Teletruth releases some scathing claims

written by Karl Bode, February 19th, 2003

Light Reading

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=26395&site=lightreading

RBOC Accounting Mystery Resurfaces January 6th, 2003

Newsday
http://www.newsday.com/business/printedition/ny-bzfone073077748jan07,0,5608587.story?coll=ny%2Dbusiness%2Dprint

Easing Phone Rules a Concern, Bells want more price freedom
By Mark Harrington, STAFF WRITER, January 7, 2003

New York Post

http://www.nypost.com/business/52733.htm
FCC RULES BURN CUSTOMERS, LONG-DISTANCE CARRIERS
January 7, 2003 -- Ben Silverman

David Isenberg's Smart Letter
Subject: Here Comes the Bailout -- SMART Letter #82

January 07, 2003 5:12 PM
Under the no-UNE-P scenario that the FCC is pushing, the ILECs will indeed have more cash -- but will they invest this cash in their networks? It ain't necessarily so,
according to what Bruce Kushnick has been saying for years
(see
http://newnetworks.com).

San Jose Mercury News

http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/5231643.htm

FCC Gives Phone Giants the Next Generation
* posted by Dan Gillmor 11:34 AM, February 20th, 2003
"Bruce Kushnick has this trenchant analysis."

America's Network
http://www.americasnetwork.com/americasnetwork/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=43326

COMMENTARY: UNE-P reform and the turning point of competition?
By: Grahame Lynch January 15, 2003,

XChange Magazine, Cover Story

http://www.x-changemag.com/articles/291feat1.html

THE REAL STORY ON BELL OUT-OF-REGION COMPETITION
By Fred Dawson, Posted 9/01/2002

Phone+ Magazine
http://www.x-changemag.com/articles/291feat1.html

Watchdog Group Asks SEC for Verizon Probe
By Josh Long Posted on: 02/14/2003

Phone+ Magazine
http://www.phoneplusmag.com/hotnews/32h17133946.html

FCC Never Discredited Audits, Says Watchdog Chairman
By Josh Long Posted on: 02/17/2003

... I would like to point out that the FCC never discredited their report," says Bruce Kushnick, chairman of TeleTruth, an organization that recently asked the ...

 
Light Reading
http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?site=lightreading&doc_id=27951

Does the FCC Hate Small Business?, Feb 05 2003

=================================================================

The 'Incredible' Bells,

http://www.techcentralstation.com/1051/techwrapper.jsp?PID=1051-250&CID=1051-021902D

Tech Central, February 19, 2002

 

Your Biggest Headache – E-Mail

http://www.ispworld.com/isp/newsletter/executive/operations_020702.htm

ISPworld News, February 7, 2002

 

Truth test for Verizon

http://www.teletruth.org/About/clippings/StarLedge1.html

New Jersey Star Ledger, February 1, 2002

 

Your phone company owes you $200 (and why you won't get it),

http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2844033,00.html

David Coursey, AnchorDesk, ZDNet , January 31, 2002

 

ISP Failures Put E-Mail Into Limbo

http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-000007669jan31.story

Los Angeles Times January 31, 2002

 

Verizon Critics Seek Phone Bills To Study,

http://www.teletruth.org/About/clippings/hunterdon1.html

Hunterdon County Democrat, January 31, 2002

 

The DLECs' demise,

http://www.nwfusion.com/research/2002/0107feat.html

NetworkWorld Fusion, January 7, 2002

Local Baby Bells blamed for broadband blues, http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/01/12/19/011219hnbabybells.xml

Infoworld, December 19, 2001

 

Broadband: A problem without a solution?

http://www.totaltele.com/interviews/display.asp?InterviewID=98

TotalTelecom, Communications Week International., November 12, 2001

 

The Bell's Role In The Current Financial Recession

http://www.telecomweb.com/archive/desk/20011102.htm

Telecom Web, November 9th, 2001

 

The "Broadband Bill of Rights" is Supported by Maryland Consumers

http://www.md4competition.org/main.html

October 2001

 

Slowdown in DSL might continue even if broadband bill passes

http://www.newnetworks.com/bridgenews83101.htm

Bridge News, August 31, 2001

 

Is Bay Ridge Paying Too Much for Its Telephone Network?

http://www.newnetworks.com/courierlife.htm

Bay Ridge Courier Life, Week of August 27th, 2001

 

Reference: Northpoint vs Verizon- Superior Court Case # 317249, Amended 7/12/2001

Department of Justice Trustee:

 http://www.complaints.com/august2001/complaintoftheday.august27.1.htm

Complaints.com, Agusut 27, 2001

 

Rhythms NetConnections to Close, Leaving DSL Clients in the Lurch,

Wall Street Journal, August 13, 2001 (subscription required)

 

Covad, One of the Last DSL Competitors, Blames Troubles on Bell Tactics,

Wall Street Journal, August 9, 2001 (subscription required)

 

Bell Companies Blamed for D.S.L.'s Woes,

The New York Times, August 6, 2001, (subscription required)

 

The New Realities of Broadband

 http://theneteconomy.com/article/0,3658,s%253D1855%2526a%253D13780,00.asp

August 3, 2001

Are Bells to blame for the tech crash?

http://iwsun4.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/01/08/03/010803hnbabybells.xml

Infoworld, August 3, 2001

 

Subject: IP: STOP THE FCC LINE CHARGE INCREASE JULY 1st, 2001, NNI Asks the FCC

http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/200107/msg00000.html

Interesting-people, 7/1/01

 

And the Winner Is?

http://www.theneteconomy.com/article.asp?section=15&article_id=060401_sr

The Net Economy, June 4,2001

 

Rep. Tauzin to Bring Broadband Deployment Act Back to Table,

http://www.internetnews.com/isp-news/article/0,,8_746971,00.html

ISPnews 4/19/01

 

Why Tauzin-Dingell Bill is Evil, Position Paper, New Networks Institute

http://www.boardwatch.com/src/WP_NNI_042501.htm

ISP World, 4/26/01

 

The Bell Monopolies are Killing Broadband, DSL & Competition, Part 1

http://www.ispworld.com/bw/jan01/Tales_Baby_Bells.htm

Boardwatch Magazine, 1/20/01

 

The Bell Monopolies are Killing DSL, Broadband & Competition. Part 2,

http://www.ispworld.com/bw/feb01/Tales_Baby_Bells.htm

Boardwatch Magazine, 2/15/01

 

DSL Groundswell: Winter of Discontent Could Get Ugly

http://www.broadbandweek.com/news/010219/print/010219_news_ground.htm

BroadbandWeek, February 19, 2001

 

Customers Squawk Back Over DSL Service Verizon Gets Earful

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0107/russo.php,

Village Voice February 14 - 20, 2001

 

Mid-Atlantic States Press for Split of Verizon's Wholesale, Retail Operations,

http://www.newnetworks.com/patrio-news.htm

Patriot News, February 13, 2001,

 

"The Broadband Bill of Rights",

http://www.isp-planet.com/politics/2001/bb_bor.html

ISP Planet: 2/12/01

 

Verizon Halts DSL Sales At 53 Sites,

http://www.internetnews.com/isp-news/article/0,,8_585151,00.html

ISPnews, February 9, 2001

 

Pipe dreams: Will Rush To Deregulate Telecom Really Expand Broadband?

http://www.techcentralstation.com/NewsDesk.asp?FormMode=MainTerminalArticles&ID=49

James K. Glassman, Host, Tech Central Station, Monday, January 15, 2001

 

Verizon tells New York to quit DSL whingeing,

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/5/16691.html

UK Register 2/16/01

 

Just One Question: Joe Plotkin,

http://www.thestandard.com/article/0,1902,21879,00.html

Industry Standard, 2/12/01

 

New Yorkers plan DSL protest summit

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1004-200-4602284.html

CNET News.com January 25, 2001,

 

Interview With Joe Plotkin, CNN/FN

http://cnnfn.cnn.com/services/fnonair/video/dj/56k/012601pt2.html

CNN/FN, Digital Jam, 1/26/01

 

New Yorkers plot DSL protest,

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/16379.html

UK Register 1/25/01

LINKS FOR NEW NETWORKS INSTITUTE, 2000