http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/David Cay Johnston The Fine Print How Big Companies Use Plain English to Rob You Blind 9-19-12.mp4

Fellow Brighton, N.Y. resident and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Cay Johnston hits the nail right on the head describing the Big Telecom Swindle that promised America it was going to get something magical called “the information superhighway.”

Over a half-trillion dollars in rate increases later, AT&T and Verizon instead spent a lot of that money on an enormously profitable wireless business that redefines the average American family’s monthly phone bill at $100+. Johnston talks about the broken industry promises of ubiquitous broadband, leaving millions of potential FiOS and U-verse customers behind.

With vast lobbying arms, large cable and phone companies have manipulated public policy to assure they can gouge customers, shortchange workers, and erect barriers to fair play. If consumers don’t pay attention, politicians armed with fat campaign contributions will continue to represent corporate interests, not those of the average American.  

[Note to Mr. Johnston: He isn't the only reporter paying attention. Hat tip to Stop the Cap! reader Pat McDermott who shared the video.]  (17 minutes)

Other stories of interest:

1. Big Telecom Customer Rage: Your Call Is Not That Important to Us
2. FiOS Leaves Cities Behind As Verizon Lobbies for Cross-Marketing Deal With Cable Foes
3. Verizilla: Bad for Competition, Bad for Consumers, Bad for You, Says CWA
4. Verizon CEO Ponders Killing Off Rural Phone/Broadband Service & Rake In Wireless Profits
5. Wall Street Encourages Verizon to Get Completely Out Of Landline/FiOS Business