State Senate panel backs bill to deregulate Internet phone service
by Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times
“We see this as a withering away and the elimination of PUC regulation over telecommunication,” said Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California. “We think that would be bad public policy.” Read More ›
California may eliminate oversight for VOIP services
by Cyrus Farivar, Ars Technica
Major telecommunications corporations, including AT&T and Verizon, have supported the bill, and would stand to benefit the most from its passage. Read More ›
Voice-over-internet at heart of regulatory debate
by John Howard , Capitol Weekly
Consumers Union, the Consumer Federation of California, AARP California and the California Broadband Policy Network are among the bill’s foes. Read More ›
Fracking Impact On Water Worries Californians
by Ngoc Nguyen, New America Media, California Progress Report
Both types of fracking also inject chemicals with the water, raising concerns about the possible contamination of drinking water sources. The state already has identified many hotspots where groundwater has been tainted with agricultural chemicals, such as nitrates. Read More ›
Vargas’ CARFAX bill rejected
by Michael Gardner, San Diego Union Tribune
Legislation carried by Sen. Juan Vargas that seeks to alter a complex law governing vehicle history reports stalled in a Senate committee Tuesday after more than half of the members did not vote. Read More ›
Controversial fire retardant rules may soon change in Calif.
by Mark Matthews , KGO - ABC News 7
California’s Department of Consumer Affairs says it’s looking at changing controversial fire retardant rules. State Sen. Mark Leno has been trying for years to undo the regulation. Read More ›
CFC Opposes SB 990 (Vargas) – Used Car Safety – DEFEATED
Because private data providers are not subject to regulation like the NMVTIS is, this bill opens the door for inaccurate information to be provided to consumers with impunity. SB 990 will be categorically unsafe for consumers. Read More ›
Consumer Federation of California Opposes Phony Used Car “Safety” Bill
“SB 990 would undermine consumer protection in order to enhance the profits of a single out-of-state company,” said Richard Holober, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California. “Carfax would undoubtedly benefit from this legislation, but it would be categorically unsafe for consumers.” Read More ›
L.A. Clippers Make A Bad Play with 1-800LoanMart
by By Ginna Green and Cesar Castro Center for Responsible Lending, California Progress Report
Car-title loans have triple-digit interest rates. In California, there is essentially no limit to the amount of interest a car-title lender can charge, though 1-800LoanMart stipulates that 180% APR is the maximum for their loans. Read More ›
Fight brewing over used-car information
by Michael Gardner, San Diego Union Tribune
…Carfax data are limited and questionable given the company reveals few details about its gathering due to proprietary rights. Others opposed include…the Consumer Federation of California and Consumer Watchdog.
Read More ›
Burning irony: Flame retardants might create deadlier fires
by Brett Israel, Environmental Health News
…a document signed by more than 200 scientists from 30 countries disputes that flame retardants have been proven effective. “Brominated and chlorinated flame retardants can increase fire toxicity, but their overall benefit in improving fire safety has not been proven.” Read More ›
State funding for quake safety oversight at risk
by Will Evans, California Watch
The cash crunch is the latest fallout from Proposition 26, which was bankrolled in 2010 by oil, tobacco and alcohol companies and the California Chamber of Commerce.
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Why cell-phone tracking should require a warrant
by James Temple, San Francisco Chronicle
The American Civil Liberties Union released a troubling report this past weekend demonstrating that law enforcement agencies around the nation routinely track personal cell phones, often without warrants. Conspicuously absent from the survey was information about the tactics of Northern California police departments. Read More ›