http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10379360-266.html
Advocacy groups say AT&T has gone too far in its lobbying
efforts to oppose the Federal Communications Commission's new
proposed Net neutrality regulations.
This week AT&T's top lobbyist Jim Cicconi sent a memo to
managers urging them to encourage their families and friends "to
join the voices telling the FCC not to regulate the Internet."
Over the past few weeks, the battle over Net neutrality has
heated up as the FCC is set to start the ball rolling on a
process that will make the agency's existing open Internet
principles official regulation.
AT&T has been one of the biggest opponents of the new
regulation, along with Verizon Communications and cable company
Comcast. On the other side of the debate are consumer advocacy
groups and large Web-based technology companies, such as Google
and Amazon.
The phone companies have rallied support among some
congressional leaders, both Democrat and Republican, who have
sent letters to the FCC opposing new regulation. And the
advocacy groups and big Internet companies have done the same.
But many advocacy groups say that AT&T has crossed the line by
suggesting to its employees that they use their personal e-mail
addresses to post comments opposing Net neutrality regulation.
These groups believe that AT&T is deliberately trying to create
the appearance that average citizens oppose the Net neutrality
regulations.
"AT&T is practiced in spending money on so-called astroturf
groups to give the appearance there is widespread support for
their agenda," said Timothy Karr, campaign director for the
advocacy group Free Press.
AT&T defended its actions by saying that it is merely rallying
support for its cause.
"We were providing important information to our employees," said
Michael Balmoris, a company spokesman. "And it was up to them to
respond personally. If they use their company e-mail that is
fine, too. It was not a mandatory business request."
Balmoris argued that groups such as Free Press and Public
Knowledge also mobilize people on the Web. They send e-mails to
thousands and provide talking points and even form letters that
they can send to congressional leaders or post as comments.
This is true. But Karr argues the main difference is that Free
Press and other advocacy organizations do not pay the people who
post those comments and send those letters. What's more, their
Web campaigns are built around people who have specifically
asked for information on the subject and are generally already
in support of Free Press' positions.
"Our activists aren't on our payroll," he said. "And they come
to us looking for information. When a letter like this is sent
to every manager from one of the company's most senior
executives, it's hard to imagine AT&T employees thinking the
memo was merely a suggestion."
Art Brodsky, a spokesman for Public Knowledge, another advocacy
group supporting Net neutrality, also took issue with AT&T's
letter to its employees. Brodsky said that not only are the
talking points AT&T uses in its memo questionable and debatable
at best, but he said that AT&T is subtly threatening employees
by describing the FCC as "poised to regulate the Internet in a
manner that would drive up consumer prices, and burden companies
like ours while exempting companies like Google."
"When you send a letter to employees and say that our business
will suffer if you don't do this, it's very misleading
especially in this economic environment," he said. "People are
afraid of losing their jobs. But the fact of the matter is that
AT&T has already laid off 20,000 employees , and it's had
nothing to do with Net neutrality."
The FCC is expected to begin the process of creating rules for
Net neutrality regulation at its monthly meeting on Thursday.
The FCC has extended the period for receiving comments until
Thursday.
Privacy Invader AT&T enlists employees to oppose Net neutrality 
Linear Mode
