AT&T's 'Consumer Bill of Rights' is a Misleading Head Fake AT&T's back again, once again breathlessly insisting that the company adores net neutrality, despite the fact it has spent millions of dollars and thousands of man hours killing the popular consumer protections. As net neutrality advocates yesterday continued protesting over the FCC's well-heeled repeal, AT&T's top lobbying and policy man Bob Quinn penned a comically-misleading blog post insisting that the company has always been a massive fan of net neutrality. Quinn also reiterated calls for what the company is calling a "Federal Consumer Bill of Rights."

"On this latest Day of Action, we want it to be clear that AT&T supports a Federal Consumer Bill of Rights that offers consumers protections across all internet platforms," said Quinn. "On this Day of Action, rather than support a CRA process, which only delays us from really providing consumers some basic protections on the internet, AT&T supports the opening of a dialogue to solve this vexing issue through legislation once and for all," the lobbyist added. What's AT&T actually up to here? One, AT&T's worried that the FCC's unpopular repeal won't hold up to scrutiny in the courts. And they should be. Under the law, the FCC has to prove that the broadband market changed so dramatically in just to years to warrant such a severe and unpopular reversal of agency policy (tip: it didn't). All of the shady behavior the FCC turned a blind eye to during the proceeding could also put the repeal in legal jeopardy. As such, ISPs and their loyal marionettes in Congress (looking at you, Marsha Blackburn) have been pushing hard for a net neutrality law in name only. A law guys like Bob Quinn knows their lobbyists will write. A law that bans all of the things AT&T never had much interest in (like the outright blocking of websites), but is filled with so many loopholes as to be useless otherwise. Especially when it comes to policing the areas where modern net neutrality violations have actually been occurring (usage caps, zero rating, interconnection). Such a law would have multiple tactical functions. One, it would prevent any future FCC or Congress from passing tough, real rules down the road. Two, it would pre-empt all of the state level efforts to protect net neutrality that have bubbled up in the wake of the FCC's repeal. Again, AT&T's interest here isn't in real consumer protections. And AT&T's the last company that should be chiming in on what's best for consumers anyway. This is a company that in just the last five years has been fined for helping drug dealers run directory assistance scams, helping crammers rip off the company's own customers (at one point being caught actively making its bills harder to understand to aid the scammers), and ripping off programs for both the hearing impaired and the poor. This is the same company that thinks charging consumers more money for privacy is a nifty idea. As such, consumer welfare is the absolute last thing on AT&T's mind. AT&T's real goal here is a show pony piece of legislation that actually prevents the creation and passage of truly meaningful rules. Expect AT&T's army of paid lawmakers, consultants, astroturfers, think tankers, and fauxcademics to begin pushing harder and harder for such bunk legislation as incumbent ISPs grow increasingly nervous about the FCC's chances in court. As such, consumer welfare is the absolute last thing on AT&T's mind. AT&T's real goal here is a show pony piece of legislation that actuallythe creation and passage of truly meaningful rules. Expect AT&T's army of paid lawmakers, consultants, astroturfers, think tankers, and fauxcademics to begin pushing harder and harder for such bunk legislation as incumbent ISPs grow increasingly nervous about the FCC's chances in court.







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united state 3 recommendations etaadmin Member AT$T bill of rights



At$T's version of the bill of rights:



Ammendment 1:

Congress SHALL make laws prohibiting the free exercise of municipalities or other entities to think/build or participate in competing with the "phone company"



Ammendment 2:

A well regulated militia of webbots, shills and lobbyists is necesary for the protection of the "phone company" interests.



Ammendment 3:

Who cares.



Ammendment 4:

The right of internet subscribers to annonimity and privacy SHOULD be banned.



Ammendment 5:

No internet subscriber should be entitled to any damages or compensation except in cases arising in the land of an arbitration party or militia.



Ammendment 6:

In ALL service complaints the accused/subscriber SHALL enjoy the right to a speedy arbitration process.



Ammendment 7:

In any suit where the value shall not exceed $1000 the right for an arbitration trial SHOULD be preserved.



Ammendment 8:

Excessive prices and fees SHALL be required and UNUSUAL slow DSL internet speeds SHOULD be inflicted.



Ammendment 9:

The enumeration in the "phone company" bill of rights SHALL not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the "phone company"



Ammendment 10:

Any powers not specifically specified by the "phone company" laws SHOULD be reserved for the "phone company" For those that were sick the day "The bill of rights" were taught at school here is a link » www.billofrightsinstitut ··· -rights/ At$T's version of the bill of rights:Ammendment 1:Congress SHALL make laws prohibiting the free exercise of municipalities or other entities to think/build or participate in competing with the "phone company"Ammendment 2:A well regulated militia of webbots, shills and lobbyists is necesary for the protection of the "phone company" interests.Ammendment 3:Who cares.Ammendment 4:The right of internet subscribers to annonimity and privacy SHOULD be banned.Ammendment 5:No internet subscriber should be entitled to any damages or compensation except in cases arising in the land of an arbitration party or militia.Ammendment 6:In ALL service complaints the accused/subscriber SHALL enjoy the right to a speedy arbitration process.Ammendment 7:In any suit where the value shall not exceed $1000 the right for an arbitration trial SHOULD be preserved.Ammendment 8:Excessive prices and fees SHALL be required and UNUSUAL slow DSL internet speeds SHOULD be inflicted.Ammendment 9:The enumeration in the "phone company" bill of rights SHALL not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the "phone company"Ammendment 10:Any powers not specifically specified by the "phone company" laws SHOULD be reserved for the "phone company"