Consumerist
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digital tv transition
Congress Prepares To Push Back Digital TV Deadline
Congress may soon help the 1.76 million consumers anxiously waiting for their $40 digital TV converter coupons. According to Congress Daily, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) is drafting legislation to push back the February 17 digital television transition deadline as requested last week by both Consumers Union and the incoming Obama Administration. More » -
digital tv transition
Introducing The Most Accurate Press Release Ever Published
The Senate Commerce Committee issued a bold press release aggressively backing FCC Commissioner Michael Copps' contention that the nation is woefully unprepared for the pending transition to digital television. The release is a stunning rebuke to the FCC and the Commerce Department, which have dickered over responsibility for the ongoing transition. The Committee plans to hold a hearing on February 14 to find out just what content should, under ideal circumstances, go here. Full release, after the jump. More » -
news from the swamp
Liveblogging The Senate Commerce Committee Hearing: Cellphone Companies And The Customers They Hate
Today at 10 a.m., the Senate Commerce Committee will pry through bone and muscle to see if cellphone companies really do have hearts of pure stone. The Committee will question the industry's most egregious practices: junk fees, illegal contract extensions, and early termination fees. The industry is working overtime to cast itself as the consumer's best friend, with AT&T recently agreeing to prorate ETFs as part of a desperate attempt to show that federal regulation is unnecessary.
AT&T doesn't have the cojones to appear before the committee, so the heavy task of defending the industry will fall solely to Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam. Facing off against the industry, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson - who sued Sprint for illegally extending contracts - and representatives from Consumers Union, the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, and a researcher from George Mason University.
Set your phones to vibrate and keeping hitting refresh to watch as the Senate asks Verizon: "Can you hear me now?"
(Photo: KB35)09:50: The video feed is alive and well.
10:05: C-SPAN was going to cover this hearing, but apparently the Attorney General confirmation hearing is more important.
10:09: "Meeting to order!" "Let me say two things: I will have to leave soon." Looks like Amy Klobuchar is going to chair this meeting. Good, we like her style. More »
9:45 AM on Wed Oct 17 2007
By Carey Alexander
4,990 views, 28 commentsLatest by chocopina: i just found out that cingular/att charges my account 1 minute for calls that i do not answer/pick up. they more »
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news from the swamp
Senate Commerce Committee To Decide Fate Of Internet Tax Moratorium
The Senate Commerce Committee is poised to extend the internet tax moratorium by the end of next week. The moratorium prevents states and localities from taxing internet access, but will expire on November 1 unless Congress acts. There are two competing proposals that pit state legislatures and the National Governors Association against Google and Verizon. More » -
news from the swamp
Liveblogging the Senate Commerce Committee Oversight Hearing On Telemarketing Fraud
Join us at 2:30 we liveblog the Senate Commerce Committee's oversight hearing on telemarketing fraud. The Committee wants to fight telemarketers who target vulnerable senior citizens, so they're going to ask the FTC to take center stage and explain its implementation of the Do-Not-Call list and the Credit Reporting Organizations Act (CROA.)
The Committee will hear from two panels. The first will spotlight the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, while the second will feature an assortment of interested parties, including AARP, the Direct Marketing Association, Equifax, and the Assistant Attorney General of Iowa.
Keep hitting refresh for up-to-the-minute analysis and the Senator Steven's meme watch!
(AP Photo/Brian Bohannon)2:30: Looks like we'll be starting late. Again.
2:36: Here we go! Use this handy video feed to peer into room 253, the Senate Commerce Committee's preferred hearing room in the Russell Senate office building. More » -
news from the swamp
Liveblogging The Senate Commerce Committee Hearing On The Chinese Poison Train
Join us at 10 am as we liveblog the progress of the Senate Commerce Committee's China-bashing posse. Though common sense, and a report from the New York Times, shows that the U.S. imports tainted goods from several countries, the committee, and its smorgasbord of panelists, will only discuss the problems plaguing goods from China.
Five agencies will share their experiences jumping in front of the Chinese Poison Train: the National Highway Safety Institute (tire recall,) the National Marine Fisheries Service (fish recall,) the Consumer Product Safety Commission (Thomas the Poison Train recall,) and of course, the Food and Drug Administration. Several consumer advocacy groups will testify, including Consumers Union, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the American Enterprise Institute, and the National Association of Manufacturers, former home of former CPSC Chair nominee Michael Baroody.
Keep hitting refresh as we liveblog the latest calls for reform sprinkled liberally with (apparently) xenophobic fear-mongering!
(Photo: AsiaNews)09:57: There are two feeds: an audio feed from CaptiolHearings.org, and a video feed from the Senate Commerce Committee.
10:05: Coverage begins momentarily... maybe their Chinese-made cameras broke?
10:07: Here we go! More »
9:53 AM on Wed Jul 18 2007
By Carey Alexander
2,531 views, 29 commentsLatest by mrwok: I will never stop loving chinese food, no matter what happens. Come to me, lo mein. more »
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