So, after reading the news yesterday, I wasn't surprised at all to wake up and find that the new NSA mess was the headline story in my LA Times this morning. What did surprise me though was that AT&T was mentionned in 1 other place in the A section of my paper. AT&T took out a full page ad today advocating on behalf of a bill,
AB 2987, which would allow AT&T and other major telecom companies to enter into local communities and provide cable service without getting franchise agreements with the local communities.
This bill has already been controversial in California, as local governments have claimed it will cost them millions of dollars. AT&T and other telecom companies have already put hundreds of thousands of lobbyist dollars into this fight, and are sure to keep doing so.
The bill currently has passed the California Assembly Utilities Committee, and faces a vote in the full Assembly within the next few weeks. It's passage there is currently considered likely, but it faces a more uncertain time in the state Senate.
Here we have an actual opportunity to fight back, in whatever small way, against AT&T. If they choose to be such a poor corporate citizen that they're willing to hand over whatever data they can find to the Federal Government, then there's no good reason for the state of California to make it easier for AT&T to do business here.
If you're a California Resident, today would be an ideal day to contact your state Representative or Senator and let them know you oppose AB 2987. Or write a letter to the editor, especially if your paper has run any of the AT&T ads. Don't do AT&T any favors when they aren't willing to stand up for you.
Contact info for your state representatives and senators can be found here
And 1 more thing...if AT&T can't be trusted not to tell the government who you're calling, why exactly should we trust AT&T to not tell the government what you're watching on TV?