Consumers for Cable Choice Applauds Third Way Policy Center Senators, Indiana Congressman for Support of National Telecommunications Reform

Consumers for Cable Choice Applauds Third Way Policy Center Senators, Indiana Congressman for Support of National Telecommunications Reform

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers for Cable Choice today applauded six members of Third Way, a new strategic policy center, for appealing to their colleagues to adopt thoughtful, bipartisan reform of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and provide economic opportunity and innovation for all.

In letters written to Senators Evan Bayh of Indiana, Tom Carper of Delaware, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Ken Salazar of Colorado, Consumers for Cable Choice said federal lawmakers should act quickly to update the nation's outdated telecommunications laws to spur competition. The letters are available at: http://www.consumers4choice.org/ .

The senators, members of the Washington D.C.-based Third Way, spoke up last week, outlining why telecommunications reform is needed; the stakes for U.S. economic leadership in the global marketplace; and how consumers would benefit.

"When Congress last passed telecommunications reform in 1996, the Internet was in its infancy; cell phones were for the elite few; less than half the country had sent their first e-mail; and blackberries were sold by the quart," the senators wrote. "The changes we have experienced in the last 10 years were mostly the result of healthy competition and growing innovation in the telecommunications industry. In order to enhance America's competitiveness in the global marketplace, create jobs and maintain our nation's leadership in developing new technologies, Third Way believes that telecommunications reform must promote competition while preserving consumer safeguards and ensure that all Americans -- rural and urban, rich and poor -- benefit from competition and innovation."

Robert K. Johnson, Consumers for Cable Choice president, couldn't agree more. "We wholeheartedly agree that the Telecommunications Act assumed a world that soon ceased to exist. Americans deserve laws that reflect the current state of technology, and they deserve competitive choice in every marketplace -- including cable television," he said.

Johnson said he was pleased to see the senators call for thoughtful consideration on the issue of telecommunications reform. His letter today follows one sent last week to U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, Indiana's 6th District. Pence last month wrote a letter calling for telecommunications reform, saying competition in the industry would create 212,000 new jobs and $634 billion GDP growth over the next five years.

"... Updating these laws will unleash an unbelievable amount of technological innovations that only competition can create. Like other technology, we know the costs for consumers will fall as technology advances," Johnson wrote to Pence, thanking him for his efforts.

About Consumers for Cable Choice, Inc.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Consumers for Cable Choice is a national alliance of consumer advocacy groups, private citizens and others who are committed to promoting maximum choice for consumers in cable, video and broadband services. Its mission is to actively remove the regulatory roadblocks that stand between today's monopolies and reformed government policies that open the channels for fair competition. The group uses a combination of education and grassroots advocacy to impact change, which will result in a deregulated and pro-consumer market that stimulates fair price, more choices and better service options in the cable television industry. To learn more about the organization: http://www.consumers4choice.org/ or call (866)-213-0536.

President and General Counsel Robert K. Johnson is a public utility expert who has been advocating for policies that benefit residential and small business consumers for more than 20 years. Executive Director Jim Conran, an expert in regulatory and public policy, has represented consumer issues in the corporate, public and nonprofit sectors for 25 years.

Media Contacts:
Robert K. Johnson Cheryl Reed or Amy Zucker
Consumers for Cable Choice Synergy Marketing Group, Inc.
(317) 885-0097 (317) 205-9690
johnson@consumers4choice.orgcherylreed@synergy-mg.com

Source: Consumers for Cable Choice

CONTACT: Robert K. Johnson of Consumers for Cable Choice,
+1-317-885-0097, johnson@consumers4choice.org ; Cheryl Reed or Amy Zucker of
Synergy Marketing Group, Inc., +1-317-205-9690, cherylreed@synergy-mg.com ,
for Consumers for Cable Choice

Web site: http://www.consumers4choice.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: To schedule media interviews: Contact Cheryl Reed or Amy Zucker at +1-317-205-9690.

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