Consumers for Cable Choice Names National Board of Directors

Consumers for Cable Choice Names National Board of Directors

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- National consumer alliance Consumers for Cable Choice today announced its board of directors. The panel represents advocacy groups whose priorities range from rural residents, minorities, people with disabilities and consumers in general to small business and agriculture.

"Each board member brings an important perspective and will be a guiding force as we continue urging state and federal lawmakers to enact legislation that will encourage competition," said Robert K. Johnson, president of Consumers for Cable Choice. "We are united in our belief that competition in this marketplace will result in better prices, better service and greatly needed innovations in technology for every American."

Johnson and Jim Conran, executive director of Consumers for Cable Choice, will serve on the board along with:

* David Howard, The National Grange, Lebanon, Ore.,
* Larry Mitchell, American Corn Growers Association (ACGA),
Washington D.C.
* Hector Flores, League of United Latin American Citizens, Irving, Texas
* Laura Medrano, League of United Latin American Citizens, Framingham,
Mass.
* Thomas Conley, Warren-Trumbull Urban League, Warren, Ohio
* J. Glenn Hopkins, Hopkins House Association, Alexandria, Va.
* Al Sterman, Democratic Processes Center, Tucson, Ariz.
* Ira Schoenholtz, American Association of Business Persons with
Disabilities, Irvine, Calif.
* Ted DeBro, Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity,
Birmingham, Ala.
* Lora Weber, Consumers Alliance of the South East, Round Rock, Texas
* Wanda DeBruler, DeBruler, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla.

Board member and ACGA representative Larry Mitchell said the American agricultural industry needs competition in the cable television industry for continued business growth.

"Farmers today need high-speed communications technology just as much as any businessperson in the biggest city," Mitchell said. "Despite the global importance of our work, we are the last customer group on the minds of traditional cable, and we see competition in the market as a means to change that."

National Grange representative David Howard agreed. "Being a rural resident, I can personally relate to the difficulties many of us have in securing even basic telecommunications services," Howard said. "A satellite dish is the only television option for many rural folks and short of satellite, broadband Internet is largely unavailable. Rural residents want, need and deserve more options."

Ira Schoenholtz, American Association of Business Persons with Disabilities, said his focus will be on ensuring competitors focus on technological advances that can help people with physical limitations communicate personally as well as professionally.

"I work out of my home and I could be dramatically more productive if I had access to affordable, reliable interactive communication," he said. "People with hearing impairments would benefit as well because if they had access to two-way video service, they could sign to each other, rather than relying on others or audio-only technology. We have great contributions to make to the world; advanced communications technology gives us real hope of getting to the marketplace."

Hector Flores, LULAC president, said Latino Americans want to see more cultural and educational programming -- something they've sought with little success under the current regulatory framework.

"Our members have only recently been noticed by traditional cable," Flores said. "We intend to be vocal on issues of reliability and affordability, but also on program content and offerings. We think we'll have more leverage if there are true competitors in the marketplace."

Formed in June 2005, Consumers for Cable Choice now includes 37 groups based throughout the United States whose combined memberships total about 700,000.

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. President Johnson has been advocating for policies that benefit residential and small business consumers for more than 20 years. 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 http://www.consumers4choice.org/ or http://www.mycablenightmare.com/ .

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

Source: Consumers for Cable Choice

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

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

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