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Congress and the FCC are to Blame for Creating a U.S. Communications Landscape Dominated by Mega-media monopolies

The expected acquisition of Bell South by AT&T (formerly SBC) reflects the strategy by the country's largest cable and phone companies to build monopoly-styled businesses in both the broadband and interactive television markets. "AT&T wishes to be lord of the digital domain, able to impose a raft of tolls, fees and what they term 'monetization' strategies for the Internet--whether it comes to us via wires or wireless devices," explained Jeff Chester, CDD's executive director. This proposed merger is the direct result of a recent FCC decision that eliminated long-standing safeguards for the Internet. AT&T can now operate its broadband platform (as well as its new digital TV service) as a privately controlled highway. Instead of the Internet reflecting what the federal courts not long ago called "the most participatory form of mass speech yet developed," it's now threatened to be reduced to what AT&T called its private "pipes."

"AT&T's ambition knows no bounds and places the future of the broadband Internet at risk," said Chester. "AT&T believes that it can engage in a telecommunications power grab because of the largely pro-business attitude of the Bush administration and the FCC. But they are sadly mistaken if they believe there won't be intense opposition to this deal from all those who care for the Internet's democratic and competitive future," he added.

The nation's largest telephone and cable companies have a vision for the Internet's future. Verizon, AT&T (formerly SBC), Comcast, and Bell South want to create a privately run and branded "pay-as-you-go" Internet, making everything we do online a "billable," revenue-generating service. Our every cyberspace move will be tracked and stored so we can be better marketed to (a data collection system that might even rival the NSA's!). Those with the deepest pockets--think corporate special interest groups and major advertisers--will get preferred treatment. Their content will show up (and be processed) the fastest on our computer and television screens. Content seen as undesirable, such as peer-to-peer communications, may be relegated to a slow lane or simply shut out, say "white papers" and other documents given to the cable and phone industry.

Under the plans they are considering, all of us--from large to small content providers to individual users--will have to pay more when surfing online, streaming videos, or perhaps even sending and receiving email. Companies are mulling the imposition of new subscription plans that will limit our online experience. There will be "gold," bronze," and "silver" forms of Internet access that tightly define what they call our "level of service" (limiting how much downloading we can do, etc.)

Gone will be the more open and nondiscriminatory network of today.