With the political debate fully engaged in regards to state video franchising, especially in regards to Ohio Senate Bill SB 117, it is important to understand where some of the facts, figures and sourcing for information included in that debate are coming from, and who is bankrolling the political and PR campaigns in support of this rather legislation.

Articles, advertisements, opinion polls, etc.. will often be attributed to groups such as TV4US, FreedomWorks and others, which are astroturf organizations being funded by the telco corporations in order to pursue their business agendas.

For those unaware of what an ‘astroturf’ organization is, here is some background information.

What is Astroturfing?

What are Front Groups?

Who are the Bell Corporations Engaged In Astroturfing?

Mark Glaser at PBS weighs in on Being Vigilant Against Astroturf Comments

As for comments placed by agents of these astroturf groups, regular readers here at USTV know that we have run into this phenomenon on more than one occasion, including here, as well as these rather silly postings here and here.