[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 52 (Wednesday, May 1, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S3586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TELECOMMUNICATIONS

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I have a couple of matters to cover. I 
caught the end of Senator McCain's statement. I point out to colleagues 
the link between the telecommunications bill that passed in 1996 and 
reform.
  I remember the anteroom was packed with all kinds of interests 
representing billions of dollars. I was trying to figure out where 
truth, liberty, and justice was in the anteroom. I think the consumers 
were left out.
  We have not seen cable rates go down, but we have seen consolidation. 
For those who worry about competition, I argue when we look today at 
telecommunications and the mass media, we see a few conglomerates 
controlling the flow of information in the democracy. That is 
frightening.
  If there was a sector of the economy that is ripe for antitrust 
action, this is one--along with the food industry.

                          ____________________