Spoof? I AIN'T AFRAID OF NO GHOST! Oh, you said spoof, not spook. As in caller ID spoofing? Well, I guess I had been afraid of spoofing in the past. But with the new enforcement rules laid down by the FCC, spoofing isn't as scary as it used to be. Read more after the jump. 

Free Lunch and Low Cost Internet, sounds like the greatest day of your life right? Well I have some bad news for you. I am neither offering free lunch or low cost internet and I don’t know where to get them either, but a new Federal program could give households with children access to affordable broadband. Details.

Cramming on phone bills is nothing new, but the FCC is finally beginning to crack down on telecommunication companies for the practice.

On June 9, 2011, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted 3-2 to open an Investigation into the proposed merger of AT&T and T-Mobile. The three votes in favor of opening the investigation were also (not coincidentally) the three newest Commissioners appointed by Governor Brown.

New Media Rights and UCAN urged the CPUC to open an investigation in a letter responding to AT&T’s advice letter notifying the CPUC of it’s intent to merge assets. As the CPUC has heeded that request, UCAN will participate in the CPUC Investigation along with New Media Rights and the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. This will be our next step in opposing the merger, the organizations have already jointly filed a Petition to Deny the merger with the FCC.

FCC opens docket to review proposed merger of AT&T and T-Mobile.

We’re all waiting with baited breath to see how regulators will react to the proposed AT&T/T-Mobile merger.  I’m happy to see FCC commissioner Michael Copps voicing his concerns about the merger in a C-Span interview.  This Politico article highlights some interesting parts.  He states that approving the merger would be a “steep climber” for him than the Comcast/NBC merger, which he voted against.   Copps recognizes that if this merger was completed, AT&T and Verizon would comprise about 80% of the industry.  He challenges his colleagues to really consider what this would do to competition, as well as American jobs. 

The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) is hosting a Forum on May 11, 2011 to examine how government, business, and consumer protection organizations can work together to prevent consumers from receiving unauthorized third-party charges on their phone bills. This practice is known as cramming.

On Thursday, March 17, 2011, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) will hold a town hall meeting at the 26th Annual International Technology & Persons with Disability Conference.

People love secrets. From Coke’s clandestine concoction of spices to In-N-Out’s secret burger menu, the exclusive world of the hush-hush has all the appeal of eco-friendly limos for stars to arrive in at the Oscars. But some secrets shouldn’t be secret at all. This is exactly the sentiment of the letter Consumers Union sent to the big wireless companies, telling the companies to make sure they tell customers of all available plans. It’s time for wireless companies to let the cat out of the bag. 

Regulators are considering a ban on the imposition of two year contracts on the purchase of wireless phone. Unfortunately, it is German regulators who are considering imposing the ban on German wireless companies.