The Communications Workers of America plans a rally on the...

states and Washington D.C. will rally with consumer advocates and community organizations ... to urge regulators to put conditions on the proposed monopolistic deal between Verizon subsidiary Verizon Wireless and Big Cable,” CWA said Tuesday. “The proposal -- which in its current form would allow the companies to cross-market each other’s products, thereby eliminating competition -- would kill or prevent the creation of thousands of jobs, deepen the digital divide between cities and wealthy suburbs, reduce consumer choice and raise prices.” CWA representatives also plan meetings with FCC officials to “highlight their concerns,” the union said: “Affected workers will join the meeting to explain the impact of the deal on jobs.” CWA also filed a new report (http://xrl.us/bnbkr5) at the FCC warning of job losses if the transactions are approved without the right conditions. “Particularly worrisome is the end of FiOS expansion,” the report said. “This will leave many consumers and businesses on the wrong side of the digital divide, and by extension, on the wrong side of economic development, job growth and improvements in education, health care, energy conservation and public safety.” Among the conditions the report urges are a mandate that Verizon offer FiOS to “95 percent of Verizon households in existing markets” along with increased buildout in rural and low-income areas and a prohibition against Verizon Wireless and the cable companies cross-marketing their services within the Verizon footprint.