Senators Take Aim at Cellphone-Termination Fees

Four senators introduced legislation Thursday aimed at the fees wireless carriers charge when subscribers change providers before their contracts are up. The bill, dubbed the Cell Phone Early Termination Fee, Transparency and Fairness Act, would cap those early-termination fees based on the price of the phone, and would pro-rate fees based on the time left on the contract.

Shocking Coincidence! Republicans, AT&T Unhappy With Proposed Network Neutrality Rules.

That was fast. Just hours after Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, unveiled his open Internet proposal, a number of Republican senators stepped forward to oppose it. Arguing that Net Neutrality will “impede investment and innovation of new technologies,” Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R., Texas), proposed an amendment to an Interior Department appropriations bill that would bar the FCC from using federal funds to implement the proposal.

Shocking Coincidence! Republicans, AT&T Unhappy With Proposed Network Neutrality Rules.

That was fast. Just hours after Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, unveiled his open Internet proposal, a number of Republican senators stepped forward to oppose it. Arguing that Net Neutrality will “impede investment and innovation of new technologies,” Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R., Texas), proposed an amendment to an Interior Department appropriations bill that would bar the FCC from using federal funds to implement the proposal.

White House Launches Health-Care Response Site "Reality Check"

President Barack Obama again took to the Web to spread his message, launching a new section of the White House’s site Monday to counteract some of the criticism of his plans for a national health-care system.

Senators Call BS on Carrier Exclusivity

Welcome news for folks who love the iPhone, but hate AT&T: The increasing prevalance of exclusivity agreements between wireless carriers and cellphone manufacturers, like the one between Apple and AT&T, is drawing some government scrutiny. Four U.S. senators are urging the Federal Communications Commission to review such deals with an eye toward determining whether they unfairly restrict consumer choice and hamper competition.
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