USTA ad campaign stumps for Tauzin-Dingell

The United States Telecom Association (USTA) has introduced an ad campaign that urges passage of the controversial broadband relief bill sponsored by Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich. The bill would allow incumbent telephone carriers to provide data long-distance services in their regions without first meeting the requirements of Section 271 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Two versions of the ad was created, both of which suggest passage of Tauzin-Dingell would result in an influx of $500 billion to the U.S. economy, by making widespread broadband deployment nationwide possible. The ads are running in Washington, D.C.-area publications during the next two weeks, in anticipation of the bill coming to a vote in the House of Representatives.

According to the USTA, the ads “cite leading economists’ assertions” that the widespread availability of high-speed Internet services would “give the high-tech sector the spark it desperately needs to get back on a growth track.” However, none of those economists are actually quoted in either ad.

--Glenn Bischoff, senior news writer