Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: Telecom Industry Front Groups

The US consumer group, Common Cause has released a new report exposing "Astroturf" lobbying groups and other allies created by the telecommunications industry to pressure lawmakers to enact industry-friendly policies as Congress debates critical issues worth billions of dollars to the industry. One of the tactics increasingly being used by telecom companies is "Astroturf lobbying" -- creating front groups that try to mimic true grassroots organisations. Astroturf lobbying is hardly a new approach. Senator Lloyd Bentsen is credited with coining the term in the 1980s to describe corporations' big-money efforts to put fake grassroots pressure on Congress.

"Right now, in many states, there are ads all over television touting so-called 'consumer benefits' like lower prices, more competition, better customer service," said Common Cause President Chellie Pingree.

"But those are just big business promises. The public's voice - what real people want and need out of our media system - is being left out of the debate."

In the wireless front, the report names the "consumer lobby group", MyWireless.org as an offshoot of the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA). CTIA is a trade association supporting wireless service providers. MyWireless.org describes itself as a "nonprofit advocacy organization" - but fails to mention that they share office space with the CTIA. Kimberly Kuo's biography on the MyWireless.org site says "as Executive Director, [she] helped launch MyWireless.org in February 2005. For three years prior to that, she was VP of Communications of CTIA-The Wireless Association." But there's no mention of the fact that CTIA still signs her paychecks, or that she currently acts as their Vice President of Advocacy.

Also, Common Cause complains that nowhere to be found is the fact that CTIA is spending US$16 million on their MyWireless.org campaign, which is calling for lower taxes on wireless telecoms services.

You can download the full report from http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/WOLVES%20IN%20SHEEP'S%20CLOTHING.PDF"

Posted to the site on 30th March 2006