[GPSCC-chat] Testify against Comcast-Time Warner merger this Tursday, March 12 in Sacramento

Sun Mar 8 09:45:30 PDT 2015

  Might you be available to go to Sacramento this Thursday to testify 
before the California Public Utilities Commission against the Comcast - 
Time Warner merger?  If yes, please reply to the email below from the 
Courage Campaign.

       I can't go, but if you can, I'd encourage you to consider making 
a statement something like the following:

             * Research has shown that where Comcast is a local 
monopoly, their rates are higher.  This makes them in violation of 
anti-trust law in the US, which makes it illegal for a company to use 
monopoly or oligopoly power to harm consumers.

             * The harm goes far beyond pricing to virtually every issue 
of concern to California residents.  For example, what motivates people 
to support the Islamic State in Syria and the Levant or the Taliban in 
Afghanistan or the Russian separatists in the Ukraine?  Their actions 
are incomprehensible from the news readily available in the US but quite 
rational with a sufficient understanding of the other side.  If we 
understood that other side better, we'd have more effective foreign and 
national security policies -- and major multinationals would make less 
money from governmental corruption around the world.  (See Wikiversity 
articles under, "Category:Freedom and abundance".)[*]

       Thanks,
       Spencer

[*] 145 words,.  With with practice this could be read at a fast 
measured pace in 60 seconds or at a more reasonable pace of 2 words per 
second in 73 seconds.  With editing down to less than 100 words, 
President Obama could read it in less than 60 seconds ;-)

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	San Jose residents like you can stop the Comcast monopoly
Date: 	Sun, 08 Mar 2015 15:04:34 +0000
From: 	Laura Leavitt, Courage Campaign <info at couragecampaign.org>
Reply-To: 	info at couragecampaign.org
To: 	Spencer Graves <spencer.graves at effectivedefense.org>

Your Message Subject or Title

Spencer,

We have four days to get 15 Courage Campaign members to *testify in 
front of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in San 
Francisco* to shut down the Comast/Time Warner Cable merger, and we need 
you to be one of them! *CLICK HERE to become one of the COURAGEOUS 15!* 
<http://act.couragecampaign.org/go/1499?t=1&akid=1560.1500278.bMP_h8>

People like you who live in the Bay Area have incredible power RIGHT NOW 
to prevent one of the most damaging corporate takeovers in the nation: 
The Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger.

*Over 90,000 concerned citizens and Courage Campaign members joined you 
to sign the petition against the merger*, which would give Comcast a 
virtual monopoly over the U.S.’ cable and internet market. But unlike 
the majority of those activists and the millions of frustrated cable 
customers in the rest of the country, *YOU can tell the CPUC**to its 
face, why this merger is bad* for California and the nation.

/11 Courage members have signed up already, but we need FOUR MORE to 
step up so that the CPUC takes notice. /*If not you, Spencer, then who?*

*JOIN ME, along with our executive director Eddie and other Courage 
members THIS THURSDAY, March 12th to speak out at a game-changing public 
hearing about the Comcast merger!* 
<http://act.couragecampaign.org/go/1499?t=2&akid=1560.1500278.bMP_h8>

Here are the details:

*WHEN: Thursday, March 12th, 2015, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM*

*WHERE: California Public Utilities Commission*
*             505 Van Ness Ave*
*             San Francisco, CA 94102*

/We’ll provide you with talking points and training ahead of time, so 
you’re fully comfortable and prepared to speak./

Comcast is expected to stack the hearing with corporate cronies who will 
comment in support of the merger. So we need you to*join us so we can 
fill the room with people who have the courage to stand up for freedom 
of choice* and speak out against this disastrous deal.

*Spencer, the CPUC must hear from people like you before it decides 
whether to approve or reject the merger! CLICK HERE to RSVP today, and 
we’ll be in touch to provide you with all you need to know.* 
<http://act.couragecampaign.org/go/1499?t=3&akid=1560.1500278.bMP_h8>

If the CPUC votes to kill this deal, Comcast’s national domination plan 
could be over. Comcast needs a win in California because our state 
includes the most lucrative markets.

An administrative judge overseeing the CPUC's review of the merger 
recently recommended that it be APPROVED. But because public opposition 
to this merger has been so intense, *Comcast is on the ropes and the 
CPUC has specifically opened up this meeting for people like you to come 
forward*. They want to hear how California residents feel about this 
merger before they decide.

That’s where you come in, Spencer. *Your experience with Comcast -- from 
service interruptions to high prices to lousy customer relations – could 
help sway the CPUC to vote against the merger.* /Even if you are not a 
Comcast customer, you can speak about lack of competition and why it’s 
important to have real choices./

*YOU could be the tipping point to stop this merger! CLICK HERE to let 
us know if you can be one of the COURAGEOUS 15 and join us at the 
hearing THIS THURSDAY.* 
<http://act.couragecampaign.org/go/1499?t=4&akid=1560.1500278.bMP_h8>

The CPUC has respected public opinion before, and if we get enough 
people to testify on the 12th, we can convince them to do the right 
thing again.

/We want you to feel comfortable, so let us know if you can attend, and 
we will make sure you have everything you need to say your piece./

*Join us at the CPUC hearing THIS THURSDAY, March 12th to defeat the 
Comcast merger!* 
<http://act.couragecampaign.org/go/1499?t=5&akid=1560.1500278.bMP_h8>

Looking forward to seeing you there,

Laura, along with Annie, Eddie, Emma, Lindsay, Paul, Scottie, and Tim 
(the Courage team)

/p.s. If you know anyone else who may be interested in attending the 
meeting, please forward this email to them./

Like what we do? Chip in to help fund the fight for a more progressive 
nation. Or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

Donate Today 
<https://couragecampaign.actionkit.com/donate/ComcastMerger_Donate/?akid=1560.1500278.bMP_h8> 

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http://www.couragecampaign.org?akid=1560.1500278.bMP_h8

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