U.S. broadband prices need to be pushed down by at least 25 percent and typical speeds need to be increased dramatically to catch up to countries such as France and Japan, according to a new report from Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America. Titled “Broadband in America: A Policy of Neglect is Not Benign,” the study calls on the incoming Obama administration and Congress to pursue policies to help prevent overcharging, blocking and discrimination against consumers and small businesses on the Internet. Consumers Union is the sponsor of this blog.

There were some huge votes and non-votes at the Federal Communications Commission on Election Day this past Tuesday, all of which could have major implications for consumers. And the FCC has launched an investigation of cable companies and Verizon amid increasing complaints the firms are moving programming to a digital-only tier and charging consumers an extra fee each month for additional digital cable boxes in order to receive this programming.