Get lost.
"I don't have facts to back this up"
But I think it has more to do with the way I work.
I'm a "productive burst" kind of developer. I can't just sit and develop all day long. My productivity goes in bursts. And because telecommuting allows me to get rid of the "chaff" that builds up in my life (like laundry, for example, why, yes, I can design software while sorting my whites from my colors, thank you very much), freeing me up to really make good use of my time when I'm in front of the computer (i.e., I'm not mentally churning on some stupid personal task). So when telecommuting, I'm very very productive and that is demonstrated in the level of work I am able to get done as a result.
Some of the commenters do have a point, though, that if you're mediocre, you're perceived as a goofball. If you're good, you're perceived as mediocre, etc. You get a sort of "telecommute bump-down" in perceived competence. That may be partly the managers' fault (as has been pointed out). But I think as a teleworker, you have a responsibility to make sure the work you do is visible. If you're not able to demonstrate that, maybe you're not as good as you think (sorry to break it to you).
But all in all, my work speaks for itself. And yours should too. If you can't demonstrate productivity when telecommuting, you shouldn't do it. Go on into the office, huddle around the water cooler and talk smack about the boss like all the other sheep. Go on, now. Get!
What has happened is that technology has proliferated, meaning it's in the hands of more people than ever before. When people find out you are involved in technology, they see you involved in something that touches their lives. That's it.
Of course, most people are brain-dead cattle, following the herd, and really have no idea that there's a difference between a programmer and the Geek Squad guys at Best Buy who look down their noses at everyone for $10/hour.
A typical conversation with someone I know might go like this:
Them: "So what do you do for a living?"
Me: "I write software."
Them: "Oh, neat. Hey, my computer keeps popping up this message about Elbonian midget porn or something. What do you think it is?"
Me: "I really have no idea. Probably a virus. I am a programmer."
Them: "Oh, wow, like those guys at Apple. They are suddenly so cool. I'll bet you get laid all the time!"
Okay, I totally made up that last part. Most people have no idea what a programmer is, unless they've seen "The Matrix" and then they think I wear a cheap suit and sit at a desk waiting for FedEx packages (but still have no idea what a programmer, um, program writer, is).
I guess what I'm really trying to say is: I HATE SAUERKRAUT. That's all I'm really trying to say.
This file will self-destruct in five minutes.