FCC scheduled a public hearing about the future of the internet neutrality at Harvard Law School and Comcast paid people to attend the meeting. The paid squatters, who filled the room hours before the scheduled hearing, kept concerned citizens from attending. Some of the squatters, who didn't know anything about the purpose of the meeting, were photographed sleeping in their seats. This is what corporate democracy looks like.
Listen to one of the squatters talking about his charge.Download paid_to_hold_seat.mp3
Comcast admitted paying the squatters.
I am going to see if I can find another service provider for my internet access. I feel slimed.
We should all feel slimed. The practice is fairly common in DC. The corporations are so emboldened that they will do it now in other places, such as this FCC "public" hearing.
Thanks for posting this! I was at work and saw it only in passing and was wondering what that bullshit was about. Maybe I should cancel Comcast. Their service is slow anyway.
Posted by: Slugbug | February 26, 2008 at 09:52 PM
Oh definitely, slugbug, dump comcast. They are evil.
Posted by: zapata | February 26, 2008 at 09:55 PM
I dropped comcast last week citing that they charged too much for lousy service. I wish I'd known about this then, so I could have thrown it on for good measure.
Lousy, stinkin, corporate, damn dirty apes.
XXKHT
Posted by: Kimberley Taylor | February 27, 2008 at 11:35 PM
My wife and I got rid of Comcast over two years ago and it was the best decisions we ever made regarding cable.
This reinforces that belief. Thanks for the story, dude.
Posted by: jurassicpork | February 28, 2008 at 09:07 PM