NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Re: Losing on the Facts, AT&T Turns to Smears
There's a different kind of misrepresentation that dates back to the many
years -- ATT claiming credit for what others do with networks. I've cited a
1950's Bell Labs video saying that only they could make it possible for you
to go to a phone booth, dial a number and turn on your sprinkler.
In the 90's they ran adds about getting faxes anywhere and automatic
translation because ATT would bring it to you.
Today I just saw an ad showing using a smart phone to do translation and
annotating places -- ATT claims its because of their network rather than
acknowledging others' apps.
These are done despite ATT by using end-to-end principles of networks. Today
people can dial home and turn on their sprinkler because they no longer need
to wait for Bell Labs.
There's a different kind of misrepresentation in an ad showing someone
getting an SMS message delayed because they aren't on ATT high speed 4G
network.
I know these are generic image ads portraying a wonderful future but there
is something odious about ATT claiming credit for what others do despite
them so it can continue to thwart innovation and while garnering popular
support.
-----Original Message-----
From: nnsquad-bounces+nnsquad=bobf.frankston.com@nnsquad.org
[mailto:nnsquad-bounces+nnsquad=bobf.frankston.com@nnsquad.org] On Behalf Of
Lauren Weinstein
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 18:27
To: nnsquad@nnsquad.org
Subject: [ NNSquad ] Losing on the Facts, AT&T Turns to Smears
Losing on the Facts, AT&T Turns to Smears
http://j.mp/pGwXCF (Huffington)
"This isn't the first gaping hole to appear in AT&T's case. The company
is already on its third "new model" explaining the benefits of the
deal, because the FCC found the first two so lacking. And despite
AT&T's transparent attempts to spin the Beltway press, key members of
Congress and more and more consumers are pushing the FCC and the
Department of Justice to reject the merger bid because of its obvious
harms to competition, jobs and our wallets."
- - -
As you probably have seen, AT&T is flooding the airwaves and the Net
with pro-merger commercials. But I have detected some subtle changes.
When their campaign first began, AT&T's ads spoke of "substantial
investments" in their network. Shortly thereafter, the wording in
those same commercials had changed to say "billions of dollars."
Also, the current set of most widely seen commercials says, the merger
*would* do this and that. But I'm nearly certain that the original versions
said *will* do this and that. I can't prove this though, since I can't find
the originals for direct comparison.
In any case, minor changes in the wording of commercials can often have
a lot of meaning.
--Lauren--
NNSquad Moderator