{"id":8052,"date":"2021-07-19T08:17:27","date_gmt":"2021-07-19T12:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/press-releases\/new-report-how-lobbying-and-political-influence-by-broadband-gatekeepers-has-shaped-the-digital-divide\/"},"modified":"2021-07-19T08:17:27","modified_gmt":"2021-07-19T12:17:27","slug":"bagong-ulat-kung-paano-hinubog-ng-lobbying-at-impluwensyang-pampulitika-ng-mga-broadband-gatekeeper-ang-digital-divide","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/tl\/press\/new-report-how-lobbying-and-political-influence-by-broadband-gatekeepers-has-shaped-the-digital-divide\/","title":{"rendered":"Bagong Ulat: Paano Nahubog ng Lobbying at Political Impluwensya Ng Broadband Gatekeepers Ang Digital Divide"},"template":"","class_list":["post-8052","press","type-press","status-publish","hentry","press_type-press-release"],"acf":{"details":{"summary":"A new report from Common Cause in partnership with the Communications Workers of America, \u201cBroadband Gatekeepers: How ISP Lobbying and Political Influence Shapes the Digital Divide,\u201d examines lobbying and political spending by the largest ISPs and their trade associations and how these activities have shaped the digital divide.","featured_image":"","press_type":236,"authors":["{\"site_id\":\"1\",\"post_type\":\"person\",\"post_id\":7855}"],"related_issues":[134,136,137,2065,2082],"related_work":false,"location":46},"sidebar":{"helper_enable_sidebar":false,"helper_media_contact":{"heading":"Media Contact","manually_enter_person":false,"person":null,"name":"","role":"","phone":"","email":""},"helper_links_downloads":{"heading":"Links & Downloads","links":null}},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"Isang bagong ulat mula sa Common Cause sa pakikipagtulungan sa Communications Workers of America, "Broadband Gatekeepers: Paano Nahuhubog ng ISP Lobbying at Political Impluwensya ang Digital Divide<\/a>,\u201d examines lobbying and political spending by the largest ISPs and their trade associations and how these activities have shaped the digital divide.\r\n\r\nBroadband connectivity has never been more important to a functioning 21st-century democracy than it is today, as the nation continues to face an unprecedented emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, millions of households remain on the wrong side of the digital divide as a result of market failure. The pandemic has painfully exposed the disparities in connectivity too many Americans face today, particularly for marginalized communities\u2014where students have had to turn to parking lot Wi-Fi to do schoolwork, and households have been left behind in the vaccination sign-up process, which has moved primarily to online formats.\r\n\r\nThe report presents lobbying and campaign finance data compiled by OpenSecrets.org for the 15 biggest, most influential ISPs and related trade associations and finds these corporations spent higit sa $234 milyon<\/strong> on lobbying and federal elections during the 116th Congress\u2014an average of more than $320,000 a day. This spending has stymied progress on issues like network resiliency, increased broadband speeds, and price transparency that are critical to closing the digital divide.\r\n\r\n\u201cFor years, Congressional efforts to pass legislation needed to address the nation\u2019s long-standing disparities in connectivity have been stopped dead in their tracks in part because of aggressive industry lobbying and the oversized political influence of the largest ISPs,\u201d sabi ni Yosef Getachew, Common Cause Media and Democracy Program Director.<\/strong> \u201cNow more than ever, policymakers must pass reforms that not only close the digital divide but also hold ISPs accountable for providing high-speed, reliable, and affordable broadband.\u201d\r\n\r\n\"The powerful ISP lobby will seemingly spend whatever it takes to keep politicians beholden to them and maintain a status quo that leaves too many Americans on the wrong side of the digital divide,\u201d sabi<\/strong> Beth Rotman<\/strong>, Common Cause Money in Politics & Ethics Program Director<\/strong>. \u201cThe Senate needs to pass the For the People Act, a legislative package that includes important lobbying and campaign finance reforms to check the power of wealthy special interests.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cOur political system is rigged in favor of hedge funds and wealthy shareholders who demand short-term profits over the lasting health of our economy. To satisfy Wall Street, ISPs and trade associations are spending millions fighting legislation that would help close the digital divide,\u201d sabi ni CWA Senior Director for Government Affairs Shane Larson.<\/strong> \u201cThe impact this has on low-income communities and rural residents is devastating. Telecom companies are limiting deployment of fiber optic broadband to wealthier neighborhoods and monopoly cable is overcharging for subpar service. It\u2019s time broadband workers and customers get some accountability. That has to come from Congress and the FCC.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe report is broken down into four main sections:\r\n