Shamayim
I already have a Messiah.
Premium
join:2002-09-23 | So, is this good or bad
for cable customers? Inquiring minds want to know. |
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Dr Demento
I Vant Blud
join:2002-01-02
Denville, NJ
1 edit |  This is nothing new
His love for the phone companies will only hurt them in the long run. When an FCC chairman appointed by another administration moves in and hits them hard. |
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Thaler
Premium
join:2004-02-02
Encino, CA | Hypocrisy in Goverment
This is a totally new find, and utterly groundbreaking to the core - a government official saying one thing, but doing another.
Well, at least candidates hold true to their promises made on the campaign trail. Oh...wait... |
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rileyjam514
There You Go Again...
join:2005-06-26
Kearny, NJ
| Seriously?
Are we surprised?
Karl, I gotta say I disagree with you a lot of the time but when it comes to Mr. Martin and the current state of affairs with the FCC, I can't say there's any way to disagree with you.
Frankly, I'll tell you exactly what's happening here:
1) Kevin Martin is preparing himself for a nice cushy job at the end of his term, and the way things are going he's locked in a pretty fat salary and a nice retirement package for himself.
2) Prior to starting as the FCC chair, he most likely approached both sides of the table - the cablecos and the telcos. Here's the deal they probably worked out: promise me everything a man could desire in this world after my term is over and I'll give your company whatever you want as FCC chair. The cablecos probably balked at his offer or felt another candidate for the chairmanship would get the post and backed them instead. Either way, theirs was the wrong answer and he chose the telcos in the end.
3) Probably due to some clandestine method that he used to communicate his offer (unable to prove that he ever said anything) to the cablecos or due to some other major dirt he's got on them (ex.: a la carte is not only feasible, it's available and working in the system that's in place now), the cablecos are unable or unwilling to out him.
4) Media outlets are not concerned with Mr. Martin's activities, not because it is not significant news or because they really like him, but because it is very easy for him to make one phone call and make life difficult for them (cut their broadcasting license based on some out-of-context remark, for example, with plenty of trumped-up demographics to support the charge). Internet broadcasters / bloggers are not taken seriously by Mr. Martin because they cannot impact the average American in nearly as incredible a way as the Big Four broadcast channels can, and because he has no recourse due to the lack of regulation on the internet. Please note that I am not trying to slight internet broadcasters or bloggers with this statement - I am simply pointing out how Martin views this situation.
What do you think?
--
Abortion is murder, Reagan was a hero, Clinton was a sleazeball, Iraq is much better off without Saddam, and the telcos are not trustworthy with American tax dollars. There! I've managed to offend a significant portion of BBR! |
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hogrunr
join:2005-10-21
Spring, TX | reply to Thaler
Re: Hypocrisy in Goverment
Sounds like Karl is a little bitter...notice he's the mod for the Road Runner forum on here.... |
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Packeteers
Premium
join:2005-06-18
Forest Hills, NY
| reply to rileyjam514
Re: Seriously?
I agree Riley that government agencies are in the pockets of the very industries they are supposed to reform. Just like Congress/Senate members have to wait a few years before becoming lobbyist, rule should change to do something similar for heads of the FCC, SEC, FDA, by keeping them away from the very industry they were just whoring for. |
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jslik
That just happened
Premium
join:2006-03-17
clubs:
| Karl nails it
"TV rates have continued to rise with the entry of the baby bells into the market...The promise of lower TV prices is simply used as a PR carrot on a stick (see Bell franchise reform) in order to get baby bell-lobbied laws passed -- with Kevin Martin's help." Kevin Martin is assured a lucrative position in 2009, so I understand his motivation....but why do so many on this board buy into the Bellspeak?
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If they told you wolverines would make good house pets, would you believe them?
-"Planes, Trains & Automobiles" |
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dogo88
join:2001-09-24
Old Bridge, NJ | reply to rileyjam514
Re: Seriously?
Well, here's my take:
In his earlier years, Kevin had cable. Got tired of the rate increases, piss poor service, arrogant and stupid CSRs and decided, like the rest of us who think cable sucks, that when given a chance, stick it to them hard. |
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Topmounter
Sent By Grocery Clerks
join:2001-02-20
Evergreen, CO | The Feds just need to get out of the way and let MaBell compete with Cable and Satellite. |
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Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC | Picture
Does his smug picture make anyone else want to punch him in the mouth? 
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Pretty Fly for a White Guy™ |
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Ream0
@rr.com
| reply to jslik
Re: Karl nails it
It's unusual for Karl to say anything derogatory about Verizon since his admission of accepting BRIBES from the said company!
I think he was accepting fine cheeses and classic automobiles via helicopter drop shipments for the distribution of Verizon propaganda here on BBR!
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anon2007
@rr.com
| reply to hogrunr
Re: Hypocrisy in Goverment
said by hogrunr  :Sounds like Karl is a little bitter...notice he's the mod for the Road Runner forum on here.... Are you the same hogrunr at »utalk.att.com? Here at dslreports you claim that you are in Fayetteville, AR but by reading your posts at utalk you claim that you are in Houston, TX that you have FTTH, that your daddy is an 30 year veteran at&t employee and that you know at&t executives 'fairly high up' like in this post.
»utalk.att.com/utalk/board/messag···d.id=944
You made an complete idiot out of yourself at the official uverse site.
»utalk.att.com/utalk/board/messag···g&page=1
I invite anyone to review your posts at »utalk.att.com
Now you want to bring your nonsense censorship and defamation tactics to dslreports. |
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morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs: | reply to Ream0
Re: Karl nails it
?? |
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Just Some Guy
@shawcable.net
| A fun read
The above piece was a fun read. But it could have been summed up very quickly with "Phone companies offer more bribes to Martin than cable companies".
If Comcast decides to up the anty by giving him a few million more than the telco's, he'll back-peddle faster than a 3 legged duck. So when he does reverse these regulations, you'll know the Comcast execs will be getting lower bonuses this year. |
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morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs: | he won't because telcos will just pay him more.
telco realizes the power Martin has. he can sink them. if telco loses Martin/the FCC, they are screwed. |
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Neyland
join:2003-02-04
USA
| reply to Matt
Re: Picture
said by Matt :Does his smug picture make anyone else want to punch him in the mouth? I wonder what Lil Jimmy Norton would want to put in his sweet mouth.. Arrrrraghhhhh |
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BillRoland
Premium
join:2001-01-21
Ocala, FL
clubs:
 ·Cox HSI
| Best article I've ever read on this site
Kudos to Karl Bode and DSLR for posting this. Cable companies are getting the shaft, and its not going to be good for anybody in the long run. I know that others will be quick to point out that if the shoe were on the other foot, cable would be trying to use favor with the FCC to get its agenda passed at the expense of everybody else. Sure, and satellite would be too, etc. That's why we have an FCC, and in theory they're supposed to make sure the opportunity is fair. Right now that FCC is using its authority to brow beat an entire industry at the request of another.
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"Don't steal. The government hates competition."
Fred Thompson For President 2008 »www.fred08.com |
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Ahrenl
join:2004-10-26
North Andover, MA | reply to Topmounter
Re: Seriously?
How are the feds in the way of MaBell competing? Besides, you know, crippling MaBell's competitors... |
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Ahrenl
join:2004-10-26
North Andover, MA | reply to Just Some Guy
Re: A fun read
It's not just money to Martin, Telco's can make Martin's life miserable by having numerous senators and executive branchers hounding him day and night. |
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rileyjam514
There You Go Again...
join:2005-06-26
Kearny, NJ
| reply to anon2007
Re: Hypocrisy in Goverment
Might I add, in Karl's defense, he's the primary news editor for DSLR during the week and has been for quite some time. He's also gone out of his way to point out that this is an editorial. Besides, he's a commentator - it's his job to give people his opinion, regardless of where it comes from.
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Abortion is murder, Reagan was a hero, Clinton was a sleazeball, Iraq is much better off without Saddam, and the telcos are not trustworthy with American tax dollars. There! I've managed to offend a significant portion of BBR! |
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