My LTTE re: AT&T

in response to this article in the SA paper this morning:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA062406.1D.ATTPrivacy.19bf72.html


AT&T does not care for or respect its customers' privacy, despite its "assurances" in today's paper. AT&T violated its own privacy policy and the U.S. Constitution when it turned over private information on its customers to the federal government without a warrant. To add insult to injury, AT&T changed its privacy policy to insist, as a requirement to receive its services, that customers "agree" that their personal data no longer belongs to the customer but to AT&T, which can do with that information what it will. That's extortion!

I saw the CEO's "testimony" before the Senate & was struck by his arrogance in refusing to answer direct questions, as if to say "I don't care what the law is, I'm going to do what I want & there's nothing you can do about it."

Our do-nothing corrupt Republican-controlled Congress will once again roll over & play dead, but we consumers, Republicans & Democrats, liberals & conservatives, can vote with our pocketbooks now & vote for candidates who value the Constitution & consumer rights in November. If you value the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, if you value your right to privacy, find another telephone and internet provider that shares your values. Cancel your services with AT&T when you can & tell them why. Drain AT&T dry. Money is the only thing these crooks in three-piece suits understand & is the only weapon we have against their illegal, corrupt actions.

It's too bad that Qwest, the one company that had the guts to stand up to the feds & insist on a warrant, does not offer services in Texas. It would make it much easier for me to tell AT&T to pound sand.

Thank you very much. Remind me that I owe you a drink when I see you next! Allow me to warn you, I am notoriously hard to catch...

It was easy enough to meet up with you in March! :) Hope you're feeling better, acmejack!

dg

I'll get up somehow anyway...

But as you said, it is hard to avoid using any company not related to AT&T. I use a local isp in my area to avoid AT&T but they still have my phone service through SBC.

We have Time-Warner in this area. Not great, but at least I can get cable, Road Runner AND digital phone service. I haven't heard complaints about violating folks' privacy either. The only drawback is that I'll have to change out the monitor for my home security system. It's connected to the service via the phone line, but they have ones that are connected via radio. The only drawback is that they cost $300+, & I'd have to pay to have them install it. So until I can scrape that together, I'm stuck with AT&T. boo hiss.

dg

I hope you get published, let us know. There are several good lawsuits filed against AT&T due to this privacy invasion and rollover. Jim Harrington here in Austin is part of one for Texas. He's one of the founders of the Texas Civil Rights Project, that does such good work fighting for civil rights.

And there's another big one in Chicago that includes Studs Terkel.

http://www.aclu-il.org/news/press/2006/05/studs_terkel_other_prominent_c.shtmlfiled
Studs Terkel, Other Prominent Chicagoans Join Together to Challenge AT&T Sharing of Telephone Records with the National Security Agency

AT&T is a traitor and an enemy of this country's civil liberties.

Sonia

I just hope they don't "edit" my letter like they did the last time. :grr:

dg

to enclose with your phone payments:

ARE YOU HELPING THE GOVERNMENT INVADE MY PRIVACY

And they go on to say "As your customer I expect you to treat my personal communications as totally private . . .

"Please make your company's policy on this critical issue crystal clear with a prompt response. . . ."

And a place for your name and address.

I sent one to ATT and Cingular both this month.

You can sign their anti-spy petition here.

https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=DTT_FCC_spies_off_line