Is Anti-Municipal Broadband Report Astroturf?

Glenn Fleishman writes "A report issued today by the New Millennium Research Council (NMRC) and The Heartland Institute says that municipalities shouldn't build wireless networks because it's anti-competitive and will waste taxypayer dollars. The report has some interesting points (mostly about building fiber networks), but eWeek (second page) uncovered that NMRC is a subsidiary of Issue Dynamics, which is a lobbying firm that represents most US telcos and cable operators. It's astroturf. The Heartland Institute won't reveal its funders. I wrote a long account trying to track down the connections between the sock puppets involved in publicizing the report."

Public Announcment

[JamesD_UK]

Lobbying of governments by commerical organisations not completely transparent! News at eleven!

Re: Interesting issue tho

[Black Parrot]

> Should the money I pay the government be used for something I want, would use, and enjoy?

Of course not; everyone knows that taxpayer dollars should have gone to corporate coffers instead.

Re:Government for the people, *by* the people, rig

[SteveAstro]

What next, bulldozing the library because Barnes & Noble wants to open up a store? ...and then suing people who lend books to other people....

Hmm.

Steve

Re:Astroturf?

[The Ultimate Fartkno]

Gaah... I really need to refresh before I post to define things. I'm starting to sound like the guy who calls you up in the middle of the night to tell you he just got the joke you told him over lunch.

H'lo?

Dave! It's Mike!

Mike? Grmf... it's 3am!

"That's not my wife! I ride a unicycle!" WAAAAHAHAHA!

What?!

Best joke ever, buddy!

That was *six days ago*!!

Too funny, man... okay, have a good night!

Title?

[prozac79]

Anti-Municipal Broadband Report Astroturf?

Hey, I can string together a bunch of random words to:
"hyper-fluctuating communications coffee mug".
"Rainy IP Microsoft helmet".
"MP3 plastic raisen sports dome?"

I guess a confusing title is the first step to getting your submissions through.

Re:Astroturf?

[ifwm]

"There ought to be another term for this. "Fakesearch" or somesuch"

I believe it's called "Business as Usual"

Re:Government for the people, *by* the people, rig

[nine-times]

What next, bulldozing the library because Barnes & Noble wants to open up a store?

Yeah, those fricken commies with their "public libraries"! I've estimated that Barns & Noble has LOST 17 billion dollars of business to public libraries in the past 10 years, accounting for a loss of 3 million jobs. You know those commie libraries are just filled with left-wing propaganda (i.e. books that aren't the Bible) anyhow.

Re:Astroturf?

[American AC in Paris]

There ought to be another term for this. "Fakesearch" or somesuch.

How 'bout "Resmearch" or "Resmirch"?

besmirch, v. To soil, discolour, as with smoke, soot, or mud; also fig. to sully, dim the lustre of.

Re:Theft

[Catbeller]

"Is your neighborhood under the constant threat of attack from roving mobs? "

Only in the summer. Street gangs are seasonal.

"Do people drive whatever speed they want while throwing litter out of their windows on your street?"

Ohhhh, yes.

Re:Interesting issue tho

[geoffspear]

I live in Pittsburgh. We don't have direct sunlight here, you insensitive clod!

In related news...

[flyingsquid]

..the Totally, Completely, Not at All Related to the Big Oil Companies Research Institute released its findings that automobile emissions are good for baby birds and cute lil' bunnies. The Institute's previous work has shown that crude oil gives sea otter fur a shiny, healthy glow.

Re:Progressive lies

[SilverspurG]

Our small town bank, grocery and several other businesses donated more. No tax was imposed and no community member forced to support the playground expansion against his or her will

Well, except for the part where the price of milk went up $0.05 to pass along the cost savings of the donation. Or the part where the bank raised its overdraft fee to $40 from $20. Or the part where the "other small businesses" raised their miscellaneous line item costs by 5%.

A bar in my hometown had a bumper sticker: "We screw the other guy to pass the savings along to you."