Now Hear This Electronic Newsletter, March 27, 2008 Posted by Bob at 03/26/08 01:40 PM

The Justice Department’s has given its blessing to a merger between the country’s only two satellite radio companies, XM and Sirius, arguing the resulting monopoly won’t harm consumers. Among the many things that make absolutely no sense: It appears the competition cops at the Justice Department didn't actually bother to talk to any satellite radio consumers. We take apart DOJ's nonsensical justifications for approving the anti-consumer deal and hope the Federal Communications Commission does better as it now takes up the case.

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Now Hear This Electronic Newsletter, March 13, 2008 Posted by Bob at 03/13/08 12:39 PM

Should telecom titans such as AT&T and Verizon be given retroactive legal immunity for allowing the government to run wiretaps on their customers without a warrant? We say absolutely not. Compromise legislation moving through the House addresses national security concerns, but also would maintain consumer privacy and civil liberties. What a concept.

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Consumer Reports Offers Tips for Curbing Cell Phone Spam Posted by Bob at 03/12/08 02:42 PM

The good people at our sister organization Consumer Reports have put together some helpful hints for dealing with the problem of cell phone spam.

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Guest Blog: Government-Subsidized TV Converter Boxes Will Actually Block Signals From Thousands of Broadcasters Posted by Bob at 03/06/08 11:44 AM

Many consumers might not be able to receive the over-the-air broadcasting they now receive after conversion to digital signals -- even with a government-subsidized converter box. More than 2,900 Class A and low-power TV stations are likely to continue to broadcast in analog, and those signals will be blocked by most of the available converter boxes.

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