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.

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 23, 2010 – Parul P. Desai, policy counsel for Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, made the following statement today as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) circulates an order among the commissioners to approve Comcast’s proposed buyout of NBC Universal with certain conditions.

WASHINGTON, D.C. December 21, 2010 — As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today prepared to approve new rules for network neutrality, Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, called on federal regulators to apply the principles of the rules in their review of cable giant Comcast’s proposed buyout of the NBC Universal programming empire.

August 9th, 2010; WASHINGTON, D.C. — Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, and Consumer Federation of America today expressed serious concerns about a proposed arrangement by Verizon and Google to handle web traffic. Consumer groups have advocated for “net neutrality” rules to maintain an open Internet where consumers can choose web content and applications without restrictions imposed by their Internet service providers.

June 17, 2010, WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today voted to begin taking public comments on rules to govern broadband Internet connections. Joel Kelsey, policy analyst for Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, comments on the move.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, February 3, 2010, Washington, DC— The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust and the House Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet will hold separate hearings on Thursday, February 4, about the proposed sale of NBC-Universal to Comcast, Corp. Here’s why Consumers Union thinks the proposed merger is a bad deal for consumers.

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 29, 2010 — Citing a major new report entitled Digital Exclusion in America, public interest groups are calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to live up to the bold vision laid out by Congress for the National Broadband Plan.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 14, 2010 — Consumers Union (CU), the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, joined a coalition of groups today in filing comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as it considers adopting formal rules on net neutrality.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, New York City, January 7 — Economic analysis of net neutrality finds additional fees could curtail content and reduce the value of the Internet.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, December 15, 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. –The U.S. House of Representatives today approved the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (CALM Act.) The CALM Act would finally address one of the most frequent consumer complaints to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC): the abrupt loudness of television advertisements.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, December 4, 2009, WASHINGTON — Analysis by leading consumer groups finds ‘Concessions’ in NBC takeover mostly meaningless.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, December 3, 2009, WASHINGTON — Today, General Electric reached an agreement that paves the way for Comcast to buy NBC Universal. Currently, Comcast is the nation’s largest cable operator and largest provider of residential high-speed Internet services. NBC Universal is a global media company with huge interests in TV programming, film, cable, TV and the Internet.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, November 19, 2009, WASHINGTON, DC –Today the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously voted the Local Community Radio Act of 2009 (S. 592), sponsored by Senator Cantwell, out of committee. The bill will now head to the full Senate for approval.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, November 12, 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the recent launch of Verizon’s newest smartphone, the Droid, consumers should be aware starting Monday, November 15, 2009, Verizon will double its early termination fee to $350 for new customers who buy the Droid and other advanced smartphones. Verizon, the nation’s largest wireless phone service provider, will decrease the $350 fee by $10 a month over the course of the contract.