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Presented by New Networks Institute
The Bell Companies Are Stealing Our Digital Future And We Need Your Help To Stop Them! Join: Bruce Kushnick, Jerry Michalski, David Isenberg, LJ Davis, Peter Brennan, Joe Plotkin, Alexis Rosen, Ian Stevelman, Bruce Fancher, (Your name here) New Networks Institute (NNI) and a host of leading technologists, companies and concerned citizens, are about to file two of the largest complaints ever lodged against the Bell operating companies & GTE, with the Federal Communications Commission and Congress. We would like you to lend your support as co-signer of these historic documents. We are attempting to bring to light one of the largest scandals in telecom history, a scandal that concerns everything from the speed at which you can cruise the net, your access to new advanced networks, and even the price of all business and residential telecom services, past, present and future. History: Based on extensive research, we accuse the Bells of promising to deliver advanced, fiber-optic networks to get changes in state and federal laws that gave the Bells massive financial incentives to be used for new construction. Though these networks were never deployed, the Bells were able to keep the money. In many states, these new laws also required the Bells to wire schools, hospitals and libraries, and bring advanced network service to disadvantaged neighborhoods. We estimate that the total to date garnered from this bait-and-switch is a staggering $45 billion dollars, and they continue to overcharge us. To add insult to injury, the Bells have written-off the older copper wiring, claiming it was being replaced with fiber optics. Though the wiring to the home was never replaced, and the old copper wiring is still in use, the Bell companies took almost $21 billion dollars in tax deductions. We are not alone in making these claims. The New Jersey Ratepayer Advocate stated: "...low income and residential customers have paid for fiber-optics every month, but have not yet benefited." and the respected research firm, Economics & Technology, Inc. found identical problems in Bell Atlantic Pennsylvania. Our research clearly indicates that this bait-and switch occurred in virtually every Bell territory in every state. To make matters worse, we also document how the Bells are currently stifling competition by harming competitors, including Internet Service Providers and CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Companies). By slowing the rollout of the advanced network and blocking competitors from offering lower prices, the Bell companies have stolen your digital future; they have widened the Digital Divide; they have charged you for a network you never received, and they are stifling competition and squandering America's lead in the telecommunications and internet industries. These are not frivolous claims. They are substantiated by years of research and volumes of documentation that you are invited to review. Our goal is to bring these facts to the immediate attention of national regulators and lawmakers. How you can Help: We are now petitioning the FCC and Congress to take immediate actions to stop the Bells in their tracks and incorporate our findings into all future plans. NNI and others have already filed complaints against Bell Atlantic in Massachusetts and US West in Idaho. And now you can add your name in support in our next battle--- To protect our Digital future. Why this is important now: The FCC and Congress are considering laws that would give the Bell companies still more financial incentives and allow them into new businesses even though there is no significant competition (as required by the Telecom Act) In short, Congress would actually be rewarding the Bells for not delivering on their advanced network promises while overcharging customers. We need to send an unequivocal message to those who can change the current paradigm. The ongoing Bell monopoly must be held accountable for their advanced network promises and not be allowed to stifle emerging competition. Please take the time to read a summary or the DRAFT documents and add your signature in support of restoring the digital future. The entire documents, as well as our other materials can be found at: http://www.newnetworks.com/petitionoverview.htm To be a co-signer just Click here Time is short. Because of events in the industry, we are hoping to have the first document filed December 8th, 1999 (or soon thereafter) and the second major Complaint during January 2000. So please join us for this important next step in protecting our digital future. For our Digital Future, Bruce Kushnick, Executive Director, New Networks Institute Jerry Michalski, Sociate.com David S. Isenberg, Principal Prosultant(sm), isen.com, inc. (Prosultant is a service mark of isen.com, inc.) LJ Davis, Author Peter Brennan, Director of Business Development, Tele-Publishing Joe Plotkin, President, BroadbandNow Alexis Rosen, President, Panix Ian Stevelman, President, Bwaynet Bruce Fancher, President, MindVox
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