Facts And Fiction

To the Editor:

As we get closer to Election Day the image makers and demagogues will be filling these pages with letters containing half-truths, exaggerated claims, and lots of misinformation all in the hopes of convincing you to vote for their cause.

I am writing this letter as a personal matter in an attempt to separate facts from fiction and clarify one such exaggerated claim regarding Charter Communications’ recent retraction of its plan to monitor Internet usage of its customers here and in several other cities nationwide. Specifically, there have been claims that local political action influenced that decision.

As the following facts and chronology indicate, that is virtually impossible.

Charter notified local customers of its intentions to implement their plan in May 2008.

At that time, the plan had already been the subject of a Washington Post article and had prompted concerns from Representative Ed Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, and Representative Joe Barto (R-Texas), ranking member on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The two representatives specifically asked that the plan not advance pending further discussions.

After learning of the issue, John Voket of The Bee contacted the state Attorney General’s office and brought the issue to its attention. The Bee then ran an informative article on the subject in late May 2008.

After that article appeared, Selectman Paul Mangiafico requested that First Selectman Joe Borst and Legislative Council Chairman Will Rodgers put the matter on their respective agenda. Mr Rodgers was subsequently contacted by council member Chris Lyddy with the same request.

The matter came up for discussion at the Legislative Council meeting on June 18. Chairman Rodgers unilaterally suggested both the Board of Selectmen and the council take further action and appointed Mr Lyddy to coordinate the council’s efforts in this regard. Chairman Rodgers’ action of appointing his opponent in the 106th District State House race this fall is a testament to his ability to put the good of Newtown before interest of politics.

Before Mr Lyddy could do much beyond appear with Attorney General Blumenthal at a press conference in Hartford, however, Charter Communications had already withdrawn the program and had been praised by the afore-mentioned Congressman Markey for doing so.

Still, The Bee is to be commended for its work on the topic and our local officials, Messrs Lyddy, Mangiafico, and Rodgers, for their good intentions.

Joseph DiCandido

Legislative Council, District #1

4 Whitewood Road, Newtown                                     August 20, 2008