Firms Fork Over Funds For Cable Rate Campaign

FIRMS FORK OVER FUNDS FOR CABLE RATE CAMPAIGN
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Heather Greenfield]
Telecom companies are spending serious green on advertising in recent weeks alerting Congress and their staffers to what they call a serious cause -- a grassroots campaign for lower cable and broadband rates. The advertising came amid debates on broader telecom legislation as part of H.R. 5252, a telecom bill offered by House Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) and House Judiciary Committee legislation on net neutrality, H.R. 5417, which received committee approval Thursday. The Senate debated a similar measure Thursday. Gary Arlen of Arlen Communications estimates the costs of local TV ads at nearly $1 million per week. "I was struck by how much saturation advertising was going on the Barton bill," Arlen said. Arlen released a brief study estimating that the U.S. Telecom Association spent $250,000 a week over six weeks. USTA represents the majority of the Bell telecommunications firms. Arlen believes AT&T spent $600,000 per week. TV4US, which bills itself as a grassroots coalition funded by a half-dozen corporate sponsors, spent $75,000 per week. One of its sponsors is AT&T. "These guys are intelligently making their media buys next to newscasts or talk shows," Arlen said.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-LWCN1149016201609.html