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.
Internet
You and your family rely on the internet for information and as a marketplace for the products and services you need. We’re dedicated to an open internet that fosters innovation and free speech, and gives you direct access to entertainment, information and products.
Consumers Union News Releases
- Verizon to Double Early Termination Fees: Statement by Consumers Union
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, November 4, 2009 (WASHINGTON, DC) Verizon, the nation’s largest wireless phone service provider, is doubling its early termination fee to $350 for advanced devices such as smartphones. Joel Kelsey, policy analyst for Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, said Verizon’s move makes it harder for customers to shop around for phones and service plans.
- What is Network Neutrality?
The FCC has begun the process of revising its rules on net neutrality. These rules could have a huge impact on every consumer who uses the Internet, as well as every company, large and small, that does business online.
Blog Posts
- AT&T’s Shenanigans in Hiding $10 DSL Service Go From Exasperating to Infuriating
Let’s not and say we did. That appears to be AT&T’s newest tactic when it comes to letting consumers know about a bargain basement, $10 a month Internet service the company was forced to begin offering to gain government approval of its megamerger with BellSouth last year.
- Google’s Money Could Change Everything in Wireless Communications
It is hard to imagine a more uninteresting congressional hearing than this one scheduled for tomorrow morning before the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet — “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission – Part 2.” But that was before Googe’s announcement late last week that is prepared to pony up at least $4.6 billion to buy up some airwaves and put together a nationwide wireless network to challenge the semi-monopoly for high-speed Internet service currently enjoyed by phone and cable companies.
- Cutting the Copper Means Less Competition for Verizon, Fewer Choices for Consumers
Verizon is yanking out its old copper wiring when it installs its new FiOS fiber optic lines in the homes and businesses of its customers, according to an article by the Associated Press. Although it might not seem like a big deal, ripping out the copper means less competition for Verizon for phone and other communication services — and fewer choices for consumers.
- Hidden Value: AT&T Doesn’t Want Consumers Finding Out About Its $10-a-Month Internet Service
AT&T has begun offering customers a no-frills, DSL Internet service for the bargain basement price of $10-a-month, something it grudgingly agreed to in order to gain government approval of its recent takeover of BellSouth. But there is no mention of the $10-a-month service anywhere on AT&T’s DSL customer web page. We wade into this mystery.
- Network Neutrality is Essential to a Democratic and Dynamic Internet
A guest blog on net neutrality and democracy by Mark Cooper, director of research at the Consumer Federation of America.
- U.S. Falling Behind Further and Faster on Broadband
When it comes to broadband, the United States is running backwards. So says a sobering new report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a group that includes most of the world’s top economic powers.
- Now That You Mention It, We Do Charge Early Termination Penalties…
Now Hear This recently went to great lengths to contact the country’s top high-speed Internet providers and ask them what we believed was a fairly straightforward question: Do you impose early termination penalties on your high-speed Internet customers? Cable giant Comcast told us no, but it appears they do.
- Broadband Early Termination Penalty Report Strikes a Chord
The response has been overwhelming to our item from Monday on the growing trend of early termination penalties in the broadband business. We offer our humble thanks for your comments and insights.
- The Next Big Thing in Broadband: Early Termination Penalties
Broadband Internet providers are increasingly imposing early termination penalties to keep their customers from straying away for a better deal somewhere else.
- Pitching Wu and Net Neutrality
We just came across a very interesting new article on Tim Wu, the Columbia University law professor who coined the term “net neutrality.” It tells the tale of how Wu turned a presentation at an obscure research conference in 2003 into the rallying cry for the current national movement to enact a net neutrality law. The article is a little long by online standards, but well worth the time.
Tell Facebook to strengthen privacy!
Busy people can still keep up with one another, thanks to tools like Facebook. But managing relationships and managing privacy have always gone hand in hand. Companies like Facebook must create easy to use privacy tools so consumers know how to control who sees what.
Creator Mark Zuckerberg hopes investors will pay $100 billion for Facebook. While the IPO spotlight is on the company, act now to improve privacy. Take action now!
