Paul Kapustka's Blog
« TelecomNext -- Net Neutrality Confuses Big Telcos | Main | NY Times -- Google finally hires more than 1 lobbyist »
March 28, 2006
Astroturf Lobbying -- Required reading
After listening last week to arguments from the horses' mouths, this week it's time to look at the Greek chorus -- the astroturf lobbying groups that big telcos pay to sell their stories under the guise of "independent" or "grassroots" efforts. First, some required reading to set the stage: A great new report out today from Common Cause, and a new series from C/Net's D.C. reporters.
Later this week, I'll take a deeper look at how one of these organizations -- FreedomWorks -- puts together its so-called "research" to help the telcos' cause.
One big question that surfaces whenever I hear about these groups is: How can the Bells and the cablecos complain about having to spend so much time and money with local governments when they obviously have the resources to fund nationwide lobbying efforts? Is our political system so transparent that it's simply easier to use P.R. and obfuscation rather than good arguments?
Are we naive even to ask such questions?
Posted by paul at March 28, 2006 03:10 PM