“The marketplace in which cable, satellite, broadcasters and others vigorously compete for customers should decide video offerings - not mandates and price controls imposed by Washington, D.C.. The notion that the government knows better how to improve on a competitive marketplace is not supported by the evidence.”
“If what we understand is being considered, this is a huge step . . . in the wrong direction. Essentially, you have the government picking winners and losers by giving the Bell monopolies a special break.”
“A correct analysis concludes that mandated a la carte would be more expensive for consumers and result in less choice and shrinking diversity in cable programming.”
“We continue to believe that the better course is for the government to resist injecting itself into a thriving, dynamic market where investment and innovation are flourishing.”
“In the last decade, the Bell monopolies have all but wiped out their telephone competitors; they have swallowed their long-distance competitors; and with the announcement of the AT&T-BellSouth merger, they are on the verge of re-creating Ma Bell. And only one competitor really stands in their way: the cable industry.”
“It is important to take stock of where we are in 2006. In the last decade, the Bell monopolies have all but wiped out their telephone competitors; they have swallowed their long-distance competitors; and with the announcement of the AT&T-BellSouth merger, they are on the verge of recreating Ma Bell. And only one competitor really stands in their way: the cable industry.”
