Hear Us Now: Blog Post

A Voice in the Right Direction

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:38:12 -0500

FCC Commissioner Clyburn calls out big Internet service providers on relentless rate hikes, and we like what she said.

National Broadband Plan Must Address Digital Divide

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:07:02 -0500

More than 93 million Americans are not connected to high-speed Internet at home, according to a new survey from the Federal Communications Commission. We are hopeful a soon-to-be released National Broadband Plan will tackle that problem directly and aggressively.

Google's Plan for Super Fast Internet Service Could Benefit All Consumers

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:35:56 -0500

This week Google announced plans to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States. We like the idea, if for no other reason than it could put pressure on Internet service providers such as Comcast and AT&T to improve service and offer better prices to consumers.

Washington Must Protect Consumers in Proposed Comcast/NBC-Universal Deal

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:41:27 -0500

Lawmakers in Washington will hopefully be asking a lot of tough questions when executives from Comcast and NBC-Universal come before them today to discuss their proposed merger. Like most everyone without direct ties to Comcast, Consumers Union think the proposed marriage of the country's largest cable company and the multi-tentacled NBC-Universal media empire is a truly lousy deal for consumers.

Guest Blog: Broadband Access and the Latino Community

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:46:35 -0500

Latinos have a lot at stake as lawmakers and regulators in Washington tackle -- or don't tackle -- the issue of network neutrality. This piece was written by Jessica J. Gonzalez and Parul P. Desai of the National Hispanic Media Coalition and the Media Access Project.

Public Interest Groups Oppose Comcast-NBC Merger -- Find Out Why

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:08:59 -0500

A broad group of industry, labor and public interest organizations, including Consumers Union, have written to the White House and Congress with deep concerns about Comcast�s proposed acquisition of NBC-Universal. The groups believe that a merger of this size and scope will have a devastating effect on the media marketplace and will result in less competition, higher consumer costs and fewer content choices. It also will give one company unprecedented control over innovative new media that offer news, information, entertainment and cultural programming through emerging technologies. You can read the letter here.

As a Consumer Watchdog, FCC Needs Both Bark and Bite

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:04:23 -0500

Saying it must be a "vigilant watchdog for the consumer," the Federal Communications Commission is launching a �consumer task force� to advance the commission�s consumer agenda and promote collaboration across the agency. We hope that means a watchdog with both a bark and a bite.

FCC Needs To Call Verizon on its Non-Answers About its Doubling of Early Termination Penalties

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:59:33 -0500

A few weeks back the Federal Communications Commission asked Verizon Wireless to explain its sudden move to double early termination penalties for its high end phones from $175 to $350, including its popular new Droid model.
Verizon has now sent a response to the FCC � well, sort of a response, actually.

Comcast/NBC Universal: A Marriage Made in Hell for Consumers

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:06:33 -0500

Comcast and NBC/Universal have made it official. The nation�s largest cable television and residential Internet service provider has announced a huge deal to take over the NBC/Universal media empire. For consumers, this mega deal represents a marriage made in hell.

Cable Broadband Costs and Charges Just Don't Add Up

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:18:31 -0500

If you get broadband from your cable company we suggest you sit down and make sure you aren�t drinking any coffee before you read further. We don�t want you spewing hot java all over your computer. In a recent filing with the Federal Communications Commission a Washington-based think tank and media issues advocacy group, Free Press, did some serious digging to figure out what it actually costs cable companies to provide broadband services compared to what they charge you for it. You've been warned.

Verizon Doubling Price for Consumers Who Leave for Better Deals

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:18:26 -0500

We are rarely at a loss for words here at www.hearusnow.org, but we have to admit we were left speechless by Verizon�s stunning announcement it�s doubling its already ridiculous penalty on customers who want to get a better phone or service from another company. Beginning next week, Verizon will raise its �early termination fee� to $350 per line for its more advanced phones, including its popular Blackberry devices and its just-introduced Droid.

Hollywood Wants to Turn Off Your TV -- Seriously

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:30:13 -0500

It�s already hard enough for the average consumer to figure out all those plugs and wires behind a television and other video devices well enough to get all the channels working properly or record programs. So imagine what it would be like if the big media companies were suddenly able to virtually turn off some of those plugs and rendering your perfectly legal and reliable equipment incapable of picking up certain programming you now get just fine. As far-fetched as that might sound, it is exactly what would happen should the Federal Communications Commission go along with a waiver request now pending before it from the Motion Picture Association of America, which represents the big movie and television studios.

Consumers Deserve Truth-in Billing

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:42:44 -0500

We hear from thousands of consumers here at www.hearusnow.org and the two subjects they bring up the most � by far � are indecipherable bills and misleading marketing tactics. With that in mind, Consumers Union � the publisher of this blog � has teamed up with six other public interest groups to encourage the Federal Communications Commission to protect consumers from misleading, confusing and harmful advertising and billing practices by phone, cable and wireless providers.

AT&T, Apple and Verizon Moves Could Benefit Consumers

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:20:09 -0500

AT&T and Verizon, the country�s two largest wireless carriers, each made announcements yesterday that could help consumers.

iPhone's Dropped Calls Signal Bigger Problems

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:27:32 -0500

It�s no secret that cell phones sometimes drop calls. In fact, that is one of the top complaints we hear from cell phone consumers who email us here at www.hearusnow.org. But even we were a bit surprised by a story making the rounds in recent days about an iPhone user in New York City who took his unit into the local Apple store because he was experiencing so many dropped calls.