Consumerist
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Posts Tagged “
Telecoms
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iphone
isps
Tired Of Your Entrenched Service Provider? Consider A Local Alternative
Few consumers realize they can ditch their monopolistic service providers in favor of local, independent telecoms that often offer similar services at competitive rates. These smaller outfits depend on service, not size, as reader Sharpstick recently discovered:In the Charleston SC area we are fortunate to have local a internet / phone / cable provider called Knology that has made customer service an art form.More »
unlocked
Verizon To Go GSM
Verizon's next generation of devices will run on the GSM network that will be used by AT&T and T-Mobile, meaning that in a few years, customers with unlocked phones will be able to move between the three providers without purchasing new equipment. Verizon currently uses a CDMA network along with Sprint, but last week announced that it would use the GSM-protocol LTE (Long Term Evolution) for their fourth-generation data services. Note, Verizon's LTE phones will not be backwards-compatible with the current GSM networks run by AT&T and T-Mobile. Both are expected to support LTE. And don't expect to see the new phones anytime soon... More »
executive compensation
Shareholders To Decide If Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg Deserves $21 Million
Verizon will deign to consider an advisory vote on executive compensation from shareholders starting in 2009. Shareholders demanded the right to vote on executive pay at last year's annual meeting. Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg's salary increased 11% last year to $21,309,264. Seidenberg's salary has risen consistently, unlike Verizon's profits. More »
internet
Biz Columnist Changes His Mind, Now Says "Carriers Need Regulation"
You know telecoms are behaving badly when a business columnist who just a year ago argued for a hands-off government approach has reversed his opinion. "I've changed my mind," he writes. "The behavior of the top telecommunications companies, especially Verizon Communications and AT&T, has convinced me that more government involvement is needed to keep communications free of corporate interference." More »
Wired is assembling a list of where each senator stands on the issue of granting immunity to phone companies who participated in wiretapping—which could be decided as early as today. The list includes phone numbers so you can call if you don't see a response for your senator. [Wired]
the war on terror
Senate On Verge Of Agreeing To Immunity For Wiretapping Phone Companies
Yesterday, the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee "reached a tentative agreement... with the Bush administration that would give telephone carriers legal immunity for any role they played in the National Security Agency's domestic eavesdropping program." The senators who have been reviewing classified documents related to the phone companies' participation in the program are now saying that they believe the companies "acted in good faith" and "that they should not be punished through civil litigation for their roles." More »
broadband
Congress Asks FCC To Accurately Count U.S. Broadband Homes
Congress has added its voice to the growing number of critics who have noted that the FCC is misreporting broadband penetration in the U.S. According to eWeek, last Wednesday a House subcommittee "approved legislation to change the Federal Communications Commission's methodology for determining deployment." The FCC currently counts a single home in a zip code as representative of the full zip code—so one home having broadband access is considered the same as every home in that area having broadband access. By doing this, they inflate the number of homes with broadband access and present a picture of increased "natural" competition in the market, which is then used by telecoms and lobbyists to argue against policy decisions that don't favor existing corporations. More »
Verizon may have admitted it gives out customer info without warrants, but AT&T and Qwest both refused to give Congress any information on their participation in the government's wire-tapping activities, saying they needed permission from Bush administration first. [Reuters]
the war on privacy
Congress Asks AT&T, Verizon, And Qwest About Warrantless Wiretapping
Qwest, Verizon, and AT&T have until October 12th to provide information on how the government went about asking for private customer records, and how the three companies provided the information. The Committee on Energy and Commerce opened an official investigation Tuesday. "If reports about the government surveillance program are accurate, Congress has a duty to inquire about whether such a program violates the Constitution, as well as consumer protection and privacy laws," said committee chairman Rep. John Dingell. More »
polls
Do You Shun Friends With Other Cellphone Carriers?
The Times brings us the sad story of Brandy McDowell and Kezia Chandler, two longtime friends whose relationship was shattered when they signed up with rival cellphone companies. The prospect of free mobile-to-mobile minutes has baited many friends groups to sign up or stick with the same carrier, ruining some friendships in the process. The Times article is rife with accounts of people who lost contact with friends banished to wilderness of nights and weekends. Are you loyal to your friends or your wallet? Tell us in our poll, after the jump. More »
success
FCC Chairman Orders Telecoms To Restore Access To Free Iowa-Based Conference Call Providers
The Chairman of the FCC, Kevin Martin, has issued a stern rebuke to the telecoms that blocked their subscribers from accessing free Iowa-based conference call providers. Quoth the Chairman:We actually contacted the companies that were listed in the press [reports] and said our rules prohibit you from blocking consumers' access to any of the service providers... One had stopped blocking, but we heard complaints the next week that they were restricting access, sort of narrowing the pipe. We called them back and said, no, no, you can't artificially degrade [service] either.We think you should celebrate this reversal with your friends on a free Iowa-based conference call. If the service is blocked, or in any way degraded, don't hesitate to fill out the FTC's consumer complaint form. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER More »
conference calls
Cingular, Sprint, And Qwest Block Access To Free Conference Call Services
Cingular blocked access to free conference call providers; Sprint and Qwest found Cingular's chutzpah inspiring, and followed suit. At issue is a charge Iowa-based companies pass along to national carriers.The 712 area code used by these services allow the local carriers to charge a number of subsidies to those carrying the incoming calls due to the location of the tiny, rural exchange. These fees are split between the local exchange and the "free" conference call company, which allows them to make a pretty penny. The fees for these calls made into 712 are higher than those charged by other exchanges, and AT&T/Cingular has in fact filed a lawsuit against these Iowa-based telcos for what Cingular claims are violation of a number of laws and FCC decisions.Reader Mike asked Cingular to explain their action. Their response, inside... More »
internet
Ma Bell in Canada Scams for Internet
What the hell is going on up in Canada with Bell? More »
fido
Fido: The New Four Letter F-Word
Sometimes, a complaint can make up for the fact that we have no idea what the hell the complainant is talking about through pure, foul-mouthed energy. Congratulations, Tommy T! You sent us just such a complaint. More »
verizon
Verizon Virally Debates Net Neutrality Over Blogosphere
The Borderline Blog has a great expose on Verizon's attempt to virally influence debate about subjects like Net Neutrality through the Channel Changer blog... which (surprise!) has become password protected since the shit hit the fan. More »
eon
Update: Cingular Prez Calls Beckie About EON
Late last week, we sent Beckie an email, seeing if she'd gotten anywhere with Cingular and their crazy Team EON. As it turned out, she has. More »
cingular
