Contact: Stacey Holliday, Concerned Women for America, 202-488-7000 ext. 126

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 /Standard Newswire/ -- Concerned Women for America (CWA) reacts to the illogical arguments recently made by Kyle McSlarrow, president of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. His remarks attack cable consumers' rights for an a la carte pricing system which would allow users to customize their subscriptions rather than paying for pricey, pre-packaged cable bundles. In a year-end conference call with reporters, McSlarrow said, "What I see, when you put all of those dots together, is an agenda [including support for a la carte pricing] that really represents one of the most sweeping regulatory examples of government micromanagement." Unlike McSlarrow and his colleagues, CWA supports cable choice because it allows Americans--not the cable industries--to control where their money goes and what content comes into their televisions.

Lanier Swann, CWA's Director of Government Relations, said, "Mr. McSlarrow's comments disregard the well-being of cable consumers and family values. His only argument asserts that cable choice allows for increased government micromanagement.  Ironically, McSlarrow, himself, is the micromanager: he is failing to encourage his peers in the industry to respond to consumer demand. Contrary to McSlarrow's remarks, 80 percent of Americans support cable choice.  No one has ever implied this has to happen through legislation or regulation. Cable providers could simply choose to offer cable choice tomorrow, and it would be a reality.

"Rather than respond to consumer demand, McSlarrow hears only one sound: the sound of increased profits year after year thanks to ever-increasing cable prices. He chooses not to consider the benefits an a la carte pricing system would offer American families. The only thing motivating this mega-cable billionaire is how much money his industry can pocket through their 'take it or leave it' monopoly. He doesn't care that he's swiping the money from hard-working families who only desire the option to pick and choose both what they watch and what they pay for." 

"Cable choice is the only option that gives consumers the freedom and control they deserve. We hope cable providers will relinquish their own micromanaged monopoly and make customer service their top priority. 

"We applaud FCC Chairman Kevin Martin for his leadership in putting consumers ahead of profit and making every-day American concerns a priority." 

Concerned Women for America is the nation's largest public policy women's organization.