Telecommunications was supposed to transform our country, providing free education to all and enlivening public debate over critical issues.
The truth however is that “the powers that be” have always seized control over new media.
This was true for radio shortly after radio broadcasting began and definitely with television.
When cable television made its debut it was thought that it would add diversity to the voices shared across the wires, but cable TV rapidly succumbed to the corporate elites and it’s promise was unfulfilled as cable companies merged into the monopoly entity that it is today.
But it didn’t need to be this way and it certainly doesn’t need to be this way now as politicians stand ready to deliver the Internet to their lobbyist pals on behalf of monopoly corporate interests.
This is a fight worth fighting – we have won before and we are about to win again!
Gordon Fuller