Cable Industry Targets Millennials With Hip Astroturf Effort A new group named "Onward Internet" popped up a few weeks ago, offering a sassy, sexy website that rather ambiguously discusses how the Internet is a "wild, free thing" that is "unbounded by limits" and "unfettered by rules." The website and accompanying video discuss how it's "everyone's responsibility" to protect the Internet. The group doesn't really explain what its purpose is, though after a few weeks ProPublica discovered that it's a new effort by the cable industry's biggest lobbying group, the NCTA.

The website asks visitors for their input on how to best protect the Internet. Employees of the group are also canvasing some city streets collecting user input. A chirpy Twitter account similarly asks for user input. What is a cable-industry group targeting Millennials funded by the cable industry doing with this information? Likely collecting fodder in the campaign against Title II and/or net neutrality, if the industry's rich astroturfing history is any guide. Calling the organization's phone number suggests you get to find out next month: quote: "Sorry we can't come to the phone right now," the call-in greeting says. "We just got wind of the juiciest celebrity rumor and we're working to confirm it. So please leave your suggestion for the future of the internet at the beep and visit Onward Internet dot com next month to see what we've done with it." Amusingly, ProPublica notes that the cable industry tried to dance around the fact they were behind the organization: quote: NCTA officials did not respond to questions about Onward Internet and would not confirm they're behind it. "What led you to the conclusion that this is an NCTA effort...?" asked Brian Dietz, a vice president for the organization, before he stopped responding to emails. Later, that same spokesman admits cable is behind the group, but states they're really just looking for honest opinions: quote: "We know that network neutrality is important to Internet users and we share the vision that the Internet remains an open and unfettered experience for all to enjoy," he said in his statement. "We've kept NCTA's brand off Onward, Internet because we want to collect unbiased feedback directly from individuals about what they want for the future of the Internet and how it can become even better than it is today. The cable industry is proud of our role as a leading Internet provider in the U.S. but we feel it's important to hear directly from consumers about how they envision the future so we can work hard on delivering it." One wonders how requests for an Internet free of duopoly control, aggressive usage caps, and protected by Title II reclassification will fare during the comment vetting process? We'll apparently get to see in a few weeks precisely what the cable industry will use your input for. Assuming that the cable industry doesn't scratch the effort entirely now that their involvement with it has been made clear. Amusingly, ProPublica notes that the cable industry tried to dance around the fact they were behind the organization:Later, that same spokesman admits cable is behind the group, but states they're really just looking for honest opinions:One wonders how requests for an Internet free of duopoly control, aggressive usage caps, and protected by Title II reclassification will fare during the comment vetting process? We'll apparently get to see in a few weeks precisely what the cable industry will use your input for. Assuming that the cable industry doesn't scratch the effort entirely now that their involvement with it has been made clear.







News Jump California Defends Its Net Neutrality Law; AT&T's Traffic Up 20% Despite Data Traffic Actually Being Down; + more news Are The Comcast-Charter X1 Talks Dead In The Water?; AT&T May Offer Phone Plans With Ads For Discounts; + more news Europe's Top Court: Net Neutrality Rules Bar Zero Rating; ViacomCBS To Rebrand CBS All Access As Paramount+; + more news Verizon To Buy Reseller TracFone For $7B; 5G Not The Competitive Threat To Cable Many Thought It Would Be; + more news MS.Wants Records From AT&T On $300M Project; Google Fiber Outages In Austin, Houston, Other Texan Cities; + more news States With The Biggest Decreases In Speed; AT&T Hopes You'll Forget Its Fight Against Accurate Maps; + more news AT&T's CEO Has A Familiar $olution To US Broadband Woes; EarthLink Files Suit Against Charter; + more news 5G Doesn't Live Up To Hype, AT&T's 5G Slower Than Its 4G; Cord-Cutting Now In 37% of Broadband Households; + more news FCC Cited False Broadband Data Despite Warnings; ZTE, Huawei Replacement Cost Is $1.87B, But Only $1B Allocated; + more Cogeco Rejects Altice USA's Atlantic Broadband Bid; AT&T Is Astroturfing The FCC In Support Of Trump Attack; + more news ---------------------- this week last week most discussed

Most recommended from 13 comments

pandora

Premium Member

join:2001-06-01

Outland 1 edit 2 recommendations pandora Premium Member Hey hey we're the Monkee's The Monkee's worked in the 60's to rip off the Beatles and help make a lot of money.



Can this group channel Don Kershner?