iowa

FCC Chairman Orders Telecoms To Restore Access To Free Iowa-Based Conference Call Providers

FCC Chairman Orders Telecoms To Restore Access To Free Iowa-Based Conference Call Providers

By consumeristcarey 5.5.07

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

Iowa Microsoft Users Can Get Some Class Action Settlement Cash

Iowa Microsoft Users Can Get Some Class Action Settlement Cash

By 4.20.07

Under the settlement, individuals and businesses that purchased certain Microsoft software between May 18, 1994 and June 30, 2006 are eligible for benefits, as well as Iowa state and local governments that purchased software between July 1, 2002 and June 30, 2006. The OSes included in the settlement range from MS-DOS all the way up through Windows NT and Windows XP, and the other applications include Word, Except, and various versions of Office.

Ask The Consumerists: Can I Fly With No ID?

Ask The Consumerists: Can I Fly With No ID?

By 4.3.07

I have a friend that moved to NYC a little while ago from Iowa. She hadn’t switched to a NYS Photo ID yet, as she isn’t sure if this is going to be a permanent move, so she has been using her Iowa State Photo ID (non-Driver’s License, which is important as you’ll see) around town.

Car Title Loans Banned In Iowa

Car Title Loans Banned In Iowa

By 3.28.07

Car-title loans have astronomical and unjustified interest rates, typically 264% and sometimes 360%. On top of that, the consumer puts his or her car at risk – the car-title loan company takes a lien on the car and actually takes keys to the car to make repossession easier.

Cingular, Sprint, And Qwest Block Access To Free Conference Call Services

Cingular, Sprint, And Qwest Block Access To Free Conference Call Services

By consumeristcarey 3.26.07

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…

Microsoft Settles Class Action Lawsuit Vs Iowa

By 2.14.07

The Iowa antitrust case gained notoriety for the now famous “If I didn’t work here, I’d buy a Mac” e-mail sent by Microsoft executive Jim Allchin, who is now retired. The Microsoft in-house e-mail from 2004 received some notice after it was released as part of Microsoft’s document production for the case.

This lawsuit was one of the last state anti-trust lawsuits left unsettled, and Bill Gates was scheduled to testify. Alas.—MEGHANN MARCO

AT&T Stuck With 2 Million Dollar Bill for "Free" Iowa Phone Calls

AT&T Stuck With 2 Million Dollar Bill for "Free" Iowa Phone Calls

By 2.7.07

When AT&T’s average monthly bill to one such Iowa telco, the Superior Telephone Cooperative, went from $2,000 to $2,000,000, it was time for Ma Bell to call the fine-suited folks at Sidley Austin LLP5 to try to close the loophole down….Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Central Division, AT&T’s lawsuit seeks to stop FuturePhone as well as the telcos who provide local infrastructure from continuing with their operations that use regulatory-fee arbitrag1 and VoIP to provide international calls for only the price of a long-distance call to Iowa. Though the case was just filed on Jan. 29, it has already apparently caused FuturePhone to shutter its service, and has produced nothing but “no comment” replies from the Iowa LECs we contacted who were also named in the suit.

Party’s over, baby.—MEGHANN MARCO

Free International Phone Calls By Calling Iowa

Free International Phone Calls By Calling Iowa

By consumerist.com 1.12.07

Get free international calls to select countries by calling (712) 858-8094 and then dialing 011 + Country Code + Phone Number.

Buzz Telecom Good At Confusing Ancient People From Iowa

By 12.14.06

The Iowa Attorney General is warning people that they may have been fooled by an Indiana-based phone company.

8-point Buck Runs Wild Inside Super Target

By 11.9.06

An 8-point buck activated the automatic doors of a West Des Moines, Iowa SuperTarget and strolled right in. That’s all the information you need; on to the bad jokes from witnesses:

Woman Fakes Death to Avoid Paying Traffic Tickets

By consumerist.com 3.1.06

To get out of paying traffic tickets, Kimberly Du of Iowa forged a letter from her mother and mocked up an obituary. She sent both to the county courthouse.

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