Consumers for Cable Choice Continues Growing as Momentum Builds for Cable TV Competition; Combined Group Membership Nears 700,000

Consumers for Cable Choice Continues Growing as Momentum Builds for Cable TV Competition; Combined Group Membership Nears 700,000

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- National consumer alliance Consumers for Cable Choice today announced that 15 new groups have joined its effort to bring competition to the cable television industry. The expansion increases the alliance's group members to 38, and combined membership to nearly 700,000.

"We're thrilled that so many advocacy groups have joined our alliance, and we expect to continue to grow both group and individual memberships," said Jim Conran, executive director of Consumers for Cable Choice. "These diverse groups are coming together because competition offers so many obvious benefits to so many different customers. Clearly, momentum for competition is building."

The newest members of Consumers for Cable Choice include the American Agriculture Movement, American Corn Growers Association, California Farmers Union, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, League of Rural Voters, National Association of Farmer Elected Committees, National Farmers Organization, National Farmers Union, National Grange, National Hispanic Council on Aging, Rural Coalition/Coalicion Rural, Soybean Producers of America, Washington State Grange and Women Involved in Farm Economics.

Member leaders' comments:

"Rural Americans deserve more and better cable TV options," say David Howard, spokesman for the Grange, and Larry Mitchell, Chief Executive for the American Corn Growers Association. Mitchell also serves as spokesman for the Alliance for Rural Television, which includes the American Corn Growers Association, the National Farmers Organization, the National Farmers Union, the National Grange, the Soybean Producers of America, Women Involved in Farm Economics, the American Agriculture Movement, the National Association of Farmer Elected Committees, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Rural Coalition/Coalicion Rural and the League of Rural Voters.

Said Howard: "Many rural citizens can't get basic cable except through satellite companies and high-speed Internet is largely unavailable. Making it easier for companies to offer these services will increase our chances for getting them."

Said Mitchell: "Farmers today need high-speed communications technology to compete globally. Agriculture will speak loudly as lawmakers debate telecom reform because our future success depends on us having access to better communication tools. We cannot afford to be left out of the discussions. Rural America requires and deserves more than a dusty back road to the information superhighway."

About Consumers for Cable Choice, Inc.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind. Consumers for Cable Choice, Inc. 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. Consumers for Cable Choice 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. Executive Director Jim Conran has been advocating for policies that benefit residential and small business consumers for more than 20 years. To learn more, visit www.Consumers4Choice.org or www.MyCableNightmare.com.

Media Contacts:
Cheryl Reed
(317) 205-9690
cherylreed@synergy-mg.com

Source: Consumers for Cable Choice

CONTACT: Cheryl Reed for Consumers for Cable Choice, +1-317-205-9690, or
cherylreed@synergy-mg.com

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

NOTE TO EDITORS: Please contact Cheryl Reed at cherylreed@synergy-mg.com or 317-205-9690 to contact Consumers for Cable Choice members.

-------
Profile: intent