Houston Democrats

From Consumers Union:

Texas legislators just passed a bill (HB 789) out of committee that will allow SBC and Verizon to raise the price of basic phone service without limit. The bill will be voted on by the full House of Representatives in the next few days.

Affordable basic telephone rates are important for the millions of Texas consumers who have a home phone line with few if any add-on services.

As the Austin American Statesman has reported, telecom lobbyists are swarming the Capitol right now. We need your help! Click here to tell your state representative and state senator to stand tall and protect affordable basic phone service.

There’s little to no competition to hold basic phone prices in check. SBC and Verizon dominate 84% of the residential phone market statewide. In rural areas they hold 91% of the market.

When there’s no competition, we need the state to help keep basic telephone rates affordable. The Legislature has allowed SBC and Verizon to set their own price for caller ID, voicemail and other add-on services since the mid-1990’s. Since then, the prices for these services have increased significantly up to 400%.

Click here to tell your state representative and state senator to protect affordable basic phone service.

Sincerely,

Tim Morstad

Policy Analyst, Consumers Union Southwest

1300 Guadalupe St. Suite 100

Austin, TX 78701

And From Free Press:

Dear Media Reformer:

The attack on Community Internet in Texas has been derailed but not defeated.

Thanks to people like you who called and petitioned their legislators two weeks ago, language that could prevent local communities from offering broadband service was stripped from HB 789 in committee. This victory wouldn't have happened without your spirited grassroots opposition.

But the fight isn't over yet. HB 789 is headed to the House floor for a vote, and high-priced lobbyists from SBC and other companies are trying to sneak in their anti-Community Internet language as an amendment.

Here's what to do:

1. Call your state representative right away. (Don't know who that is? Visit www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm and enter your address and ZIP code to get his or her name and phone number.) Tell your legislator: "Please oppose any amendments to HB 789 -- or any other bill -- that would prevent local communities from offering high-speed broadband services to their citizens. Thank you for supporting Community Internet in Texas."

2. Forward this message to all your friends and colleagues in Texas and ask them to do the same.

If you haven't called your state legislators, they need to hear from you today. If you've called before, call again and encourage your representative not to waver.

Your calls are making a difference. Keep up the pressure.

Onward,

Ben Scott

Policy Director

Free Press