Category Archives: Uncategorized
PG&E customers may face higher rates if utility costs rise over San Bruno fine
by George Avalos, Oakland Tribune
The utility’s proposal may contradict a state Public Utilities Commission staff proposal in July, which recommended against allowing PG&E to pass on to its rate payers the costs of any penalties imposed on it relating to the blast, which killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes.
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Facebook friends could change your credit score
by Katie Lobosco, CNN Money
Choose your Facebook friends wisely; they could help you get approved — or rejected — for a loan. Read More ›
“Smart” homes are vulnerable, say hackers
by Heather Kelly, CNN Tech
Security researchers say that connecting anything to a network opens it up for attacks, and they’re eagerly testing smart devices to find flaws and inform manufacturers. Read More ›
Apple’s ebook price-fixing
The Justice Department’s plan will keep Apple from getting back to its old tricks. Ebook prices should stay low now, because the remedy should prevent future price-fixing and makes it easier for readers to make purchases through apps. Read More ›
Comcast lawsuit shows why mandatory binding arbitration is bad
by Chris Morran, The Consumerist
If Comcast can make broad sweeping changes to the contracts, pricing, availability, for large groups of customers without having to discuss and arbitrate each point, shouldn’t affected subscribers have the ability to file a dispute as a group? Read More ›
Field Poll says half of California voters can’t afford health care
by Carmen Balber, Consumer Watchdog
The Health Insurance Rate Public Justification and Accountability Act on the November 2014 ballot would make health insurance rates more transparent and allow the insurance commissioner to reject a rate that is found to be excessive. Read More ›
Senate suspends anti-LifeLine AB 1407
by Randy Shaw, California Progress Report
There has been growing opposition to AB 1407 as word spread that it would shift control of LifeLine from the California PUC to AT&T, raising phone rates for 1.2 million Californians. While suspension of the bill is a victory, pressure must continue. Read More ›
Ineffective, toxic flame-retardant chemicals on the way out
California regulators and lawmakers moving forward on adopting flammability standards that would help eliminate ineffective and toxic flame retardant chemicals linked to neurological problems, infertility, cancer, and other adverse health impacts. Read More ›
9 household items that could be spying on you
by Adam Levin, Credit.com
For Americans concerned about their privacy, the NSA data grabs are daunting, but what about the data grabs happening inside your own home, perpetrated not by the government, but by your coffee machine? Your mobile devices, your TV, and now various other types of home appliances can be wired into a network that can track you. Read More ›
CVS thinks $50 is enough reward for giving up healthcare privacy
by David Lazarus, Los Angeles Times
The drugstore chain is expanding its ExtraCare rewards program for prescription drugs. The benefit to CVS is persuading pharmacy customers, through questionable means, to give up federal privacy safeguards for their medical information and permitting the company to share people’s drug purchases with others. Read More ›
Google: Why your email isn’t private
by Jon Xavier, Silicon Valley Business Journal
You might, like a lot of people, expect that your Gmail emails are private conversations between you and the recipient. You would be wrong. That’s not me saying this, by the way. It’s Google. Read More ›
LA Times Editorial: The right to phone service
by Editorial Board, Los Angeles Times
The right way to proceed is to let the commission do its work. Unlike the Legislature, the commission has developed an extensive record of views not just from industry executives but from Lifeline users and other consumers. That process shouldn’t be short-circuited when it’s so close to completion. Read More ›
How does Apple avoid paying taxes?
Apple Inc. has been accused of not paying U.S. taxes on over $44 billion in income over the past three years. During that period, the $415 billion company used a sophisticated tax avoidance scheme that revolved around three offshore subsidiaries to hide income from the U.S. government – and ended up paying less than 2% to Uncle Sam. Read More ›