Consumers Union is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves.
An acquisition would decrease the number of national competitors from four to three
Consumers Union Press Releases
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 Consumers Union (CU) and the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) today made the following statement regarding the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Draft Communiqué of Principles for Internet Policy-Making.We find much to support in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Communiqué, which lays out broad principles that promote Continue Reading
Two-thirds of consumers say government should help safeguard online privacy
Consumers Union to Testify Against AT&T/T-Mobile Merger at House Hearing Merger would have negative impact on prices, choice, and innovation, CU says Thursday, May 26, 2011 Contact: David Butler or Kara Kelber, 202-462-6262 dbutler@consumer.org or kkelber@consumer.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — Parul P. Desai, policy counsel for Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, will testify Continue Reading
NEWS RELEASE Friday, May 20, 2011 Contact: David Butler (dbutler@consumer.org), Kara Kelber (kkelber@consumer.org): 202-462-6262 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, is calling on Facebook to step up efforts to keep underage users off the site and protect teen privacy. In a letter today to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the group Continue Reading
New Poll Shows Consumer Support Building for “Bill Shock” Protection NEWS RELEASE Thursday, May 12, 2011 Contact: David Butler (dbutler@consumer.org), Kara Kelber (kkelber@consumer.org): 202-462-6262 WASHINGTON, DC – Over 60% of wireless customers with traditional cellular plans would support a government rule to avoid cell phone “bill shock”, according to a new poll released today by Continue Reading
Wednesday, May 11, 2011 Contact: David Butler (dbutler@consumer.org), Kara Kelber (kkelber@consumer.org): 202-462-6262 AT&T, T-Mobile Merger Hearings Begin Today in Senate Consumers Union Urges Lawmakers to Demand Answers on Consumer Impact WASHINGTON, DC – The first Congressional review of AT&T’s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile will begin today with a hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Continue Reading
NEWS RELEASE Consumers Union – Nonprofit Publisher of Consumer Reports Thursday, April 21, 2011 Contact: David Butler (dbutler@consumer.org), Kara Kelber (kkelber@consumer.org): 202-462-6262 AT&T Files with FCC for T-Mobile Acquisition: Consumers Union Statement WASHINGTON, D.C. – AT&T filed its acquisition proposal with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today, marking the official start of the review process. Continue Reading
New Poll Shows Cell Phone Owners Believe Government Should Address Cell Phone Interoperability Rules
NEWS RELEASE Consumers Union – Nonprofit Publisher of Consumer Reports Monday, April 18, 2011 Contact: David Butler (dbutler@consumer.org), Kara Kelber (kkelber@consumer.org): 202-462-6262 New Poll Shows Cell Phone Owners Believe Government Should Address Cell Phone Interoperability Rules WASHINGTON, D.C. – A nationwide poll by Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, found that nearly Continue Reading
NEWS RELEASE Consumers Union – Nonprofit Publisher of Consumer Reports Thursday, April 14, 2011 Contact: David Butler (dbutler@consumer.org), Kara Kelber (kkelber@consumer.org): 202-462-6262 AT&T/T-Mobile Merger Tips the Scales against Consumers, Says New Ad from Consumers Union WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Congress prepares to hold a hearing on the AT&T/T-Mobile deal next month, Consumers Union unveiled a Continue Reading
News Release Consumers Union – Consumer Federation of America Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Consumer groups: Kerry-McCain online privacy bill “an important step forward” WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, and Consumer Federation of America today praised Senators John Kerry and John McCain for introducing bipartisan legislation to provide safeguards for Continue Reading
News Release Consumers Union – Nonprofit Publisher of Consumer Reports Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Consumers Union Warns Congress that AT&T/ T-Mobile Merger means Higher Prices, Less Satisfied Customers WASHINGTON – Recent surveys show wireless consumers who choose T-Mobile have access to lower priced plans and are more satisfied with their service than AT&T customers, according Continue Reading
News Release Consumers Union – Nonprofit Publisher of Consumer Reports Friday, April 8, 2011 Media Contact: David Butler, dbutler@consumer.org, or Kara Kelber, kkelber@consumer.org, 202-462-6262 Consumers Union Statement on House Vote to Repeal FCC Net Neutrality Rules WASHINGTON, D.C — Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, today expressed disappointment following a House vote Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, March 23, 2011 – Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, urged Congress to scrutinize AT&T’s proposal to purchase T-Mobile. In a letter sent to key House and Senate lawmakers on Wednesday, the organization warned that implications of the proposed merger could negatively impact consumers and further stifle competition in the wireless market. Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 20, 2011 – Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, today urged federal regulators to take a hard look at the potential harm to consumers and competition from AT&T’s proposal to buy T-Mobile USA. Parul P. Desai, policy counsel for Consumers Union, said, “AT&T is already a giant in the wireless marketplace, Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 16, 2011 — The White House today called on Congress to pass an online “privacy bill of rights,” marking the first time that a presidential administration has endorsed a baseline bill to protect consumer privacy.
WASHINGTON, March 15, 2011 – Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, sent a letter to AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson on Tuesday, urging the telecommunications company to reconsider a recently announced policy that would place data usage caps, as well as corresponding overage charges, on its DSL and U-Verse Internet access service.
Washington, D.C., March 8, 2011 – Americans have an overwhelmingly negative view of network management practices that impede their access to the Internet, web sites, applications or content and want policymakers to adopt rules to ensure equal access, according to a national public opinion survey released today by the Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union.
WASHINGTON, February 15, 2011 – As the House Judiciary Committee prepared to hold a hearing on net neutrality today, Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, submitted a statement in strong support of net neutrality rules established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure the Internet remains an open medium.
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 10, 2011 — As the Verizon iPhone 4 arrives on store shelves today, Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, is raising concerns about early-termination fees facing AT&T iPhone customers who want to switch to Verizon and other wireless industry issues in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
WASHINGTON, February 7, 2011 — As Verizon Wireless prepares to launch its version of the Apple iPhone 4 on February 10, Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, is asking the company to clarify the options for consumers who purchase an iPhone 4 this week and want to upgrade to a next-generation iPhone 5 when it is released.
WASHINGTON — January 26, 2011 — Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, today wrote the chief executives of AT&T and Verizon and the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the companies’ recent changes to their wireless plans and the need to alert consumers. AT&T has made extensive changes to its text messaging plans and upgrade discount program, while Verizon has ended its upgrade discount program.
WASHINGTON, January 21, 2011 — Consumers Union and Consumer Federation of America today filed a letter with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) about evidence of recent moves by broadband Internet providers that the groups said “appear to be contrary to preserving an open Internet.” Last month, the FCC adopted “net neutrality” rules to limit Internet providers from favoring or discriminating against traffic that goes over their networks.
WASHINGTON, D.C, January 18, 2011 — As federal regulators today moved toward approval of Comcast’s acquisition of NBC Universal, Consumers Union (CU), the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, and Consumer Federation of America (CFA) said the approval is coming with some real strings attached. CU and CFA had expressed objections to combining the nation’s largest broadband and cable provider with one of the largest content owners, concerned that a combination this large could constrict competition and choice, and lead to higher cable and broadband prices for consumers.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 10, 2011 — Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, today joined other public interest groups in filing joint comments at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of a crackdown on cell phone “bill shock” — the problem when people get hit with unexpected charges on their wireless bills.