As we've often mentioned, cable and phone companies frequently "co-opt" legitimate (or not) groups, giving them donations in exchange for parroting AT&T, Verizon or Comcast policy positions. This helps create a sound wall of sorts, and creates the illusion that these companies have a diverse range of public support for policies that quite often, well, very much don't. The groups used in this fashion range from corn farmers to civil rights groups, all of which say whatever they're told to on demand -- frequently with no real idea of the details of the issue they're supporting.

The FCC's recent request for public comment on network neutrality of course was the perfect opportunity for carriers to use these groups, once again, to help their cause. In many instances the authors don't even try very hard. The Arkansas Retired Seniors Coalition didn't even bother to completely fill out the form letter provided by AT&T lobbyists when filing comments with the agency. They did wisely omit the fact that the group is operated by a thirty year Southwestern Bell employee.

A reader also writes in amused that even disc golf course designers got in on the action. This filing (pdf), submitted by a "professional disc golf designer" by the name of HB Clark, laments the FCC's interest in neutrality protections because they might hurt his small business. How? Other than some vague references to the ancient carrier talking point that all consumer protections magically crush network investment (something that just simply isn't true), Mr. Clark doesn't appear entirely sure:It is most certainly coincidence that AT&T is sponsoring Mr. Clark's 2010 Disc Golf Tour. Perhaps the FCC's network neutrality guidelines will be awful, and perhaps they won't (as it stands, it seems likely the only thing they'll really do is require carriers be transparent about network management). But you start to wonder: if AT&T's position on network neutrality is so solid, why the need for lobbyist-crafted dishonesty?