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Now Hear This Newsletter, July 3, 2008

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:25:06 -0600

Two issues that could have major repercussions for consumers are now floating around the executive offices of the Federal Communications Commission headquarters. One is the proposed merger of the country's only two satellite radio companies, XM and Sirius, to form a nationwide monopoly. The other is a dubious deal being offered by wireless companies on those maddening early termination fees they charge.

Now Hear This Newsletter, June 19, 2008

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:23:21 -0600

For months now we have been hearing from readers asking when the technical gurus over at our sister organization Consumer Reports would be providing ratings and reviews on digital TV converter boxes. We are happy to announce that the wait is over and, in even happier news, it looks like some of the cheaper DTV converter boxes now on the market work just as well � or even better � than more expensive models.

Now Hear This Newsletter: June 5, 2008

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:09:12 -0600

This morning Verizon Wireless announced plans to acquire Alltel in a $27 billion deal that, if approved, will create the country�s largest wireless phone company. It's incumbent on government regulators to protect consumers as they review this latest -- and biggest -- mega merger in the already concentrated wireless business.

Now Hear This Newsletter, May 22, 2008

Thu, 22 May 2008 12:46:39 -0600

Longtime telecommunications consultant Tom Allibone recently appointed himself an �FCC Deputy,� looking out for consumers in the looming transition to digital television. �Deputy Tom� has posted a story online about the trials and tribulations of getting his rural New Jersey home ready for the February 2009 switchover by full-power TV broadcasters from their traditional analog signals to all digital. Allibone�s story should be required reading for the government officials at the Federal Communications Commission and the Commerce Department in charge of the switchover, which will affect millions of Americans who rely on free, over-the-air television. Ditto for electronics makers and retailers, as well as the TV broadcasting industry.

Is Your ISP Tracking Your Web Surfing and Selling the Data to Advertisers?

Mon, 19 May 2008 15:46:38 -0600

It�s the stuff of a science fiction thriller: A big company shadowing your every move on the Internet, compiling a detailed profile of every web site you visit, how long you stay, and what you did while you were there. But this nightmarish scenario is all too real � and it is playing out right now. A number of small Internet service providers are already stealthily tracking their customers as they surf the web and sharing that information with online advertising firms. And it gets worse.

Now Hear This Newsletter, May 8, 2008

Wed, 07 May 2008 15:12:58 -0600

There are times when killing the messenger -- or rather the messaging consultant -- might be the best thing for everyone involved. Case in point: the peculiar decision by the federal bureaucrats in charge of educating the public on the looming transition to digital television to spend millions of taxpayer dollars to hire the ethically-challenged Ketchum Communications Inc. as their communications and "messaging" guru. Ketchum, you may recall, was at the center of two of worst government public relations debacles in recent memory.

Now Hear This Newsletter, April 24, 2008

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:12:16 -0600

The Commerce Department finally contemplates some long overdue changes to qualify nursing home residents and post office box users for its digital television converter box coupon program, but the agency continues to ignore expiration date mess.

Now Hear This Electronic Newsletter, April 10, 2008

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:26:48 -0600

Earlier this week the two top government officials in charge of the upcoming transition to digital television trundled up to Capitol Hill to report on how it�s going. Several lawmakers told the pair they are extremely worried millions of consumers who depend on free, over-the-air television will be left in the dark when full power broadcasters are required to switch to all digital signals in February 2009. �I've just got my fingers crossed,� said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye. We have our fingers crossed too, but we would feel a lot better if the lawmakers and government bureaucrats in charge of this landmark transition � arguably the biggest change in broadcasting since the advent of color television � were doing a whole lot more than they have so far to make sure this massive conversion comes off as problem free as possible.

Now Hear This Electronic Newsletter, March 27, 2008

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:40:56 -0600

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.

Now Hear This Electronic Newsletter, March 13, 2008

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:39:12 -0600

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.

Consumer Reports Offers Tips for Curbing Cell Phone Spam

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:42:19 -0600

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

Guest Blog: Government-Subsidized TV Converter Boxes Will Actually Block Signals From Thousands of Broadcasters

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:44:51 -0600

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.

Now Hear This Electronic Newsletter, February 28, 2008

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:30:11 -0600

Last month millions of savvy consumers signed up to receive $40 government coupons to help pay for analog-to-digital television conversion boxes, devices that will be needed to keep many old TV sets working when the nation�s full-power broadcasters go all digital in February 2009. Now it appears all those on-the-ball consumers will actually be penalized for their on-the-ballness. Plus, Comcast pays people to pack a public hearing on net neutrality.

FCC and Congress Need to Slap Down Comcast and Adopt Open Internet Access Rules

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:23:49 -0600

It�s our network and we can do anything we want. That�s the scary new mantra of cable giant Comcast when it comes to the issue of open Internet practices, also known as network neutrality. For the sake of every consumer who uses the Internet, the FCC needs to slap down Comcast hard and make it clear that it takes the principles of network neutrality seriously.

Now Hear This Electronic Newsletter, February 14, 2008

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:59:22 -0600

A new bill has been introduced in Congress that could go a long way toward keeping the Internet open and unfettered by corporate gatekeepers. The Internet Freedom Preservation Act would effectively enshrine the principle of �Network Neutrality� into law, making it a part of the landmark Communications Act of 1934. We think that's a great idea.