---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <20170327040854.GA15659@telecom.csail.mit.edu> Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2017 00:08:55 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> Subject: AT&T/DirecTV give in to government demands in collusion lawsuit settlement Customers lost when pay-TV companies illegally shared information, DOJ says. By Jon Brodkin DirecTV and its owner, AT&T, have promised the US Department of Justice that they will not illegally share information with rival pay-TV providers in order to keep the price of TV channels down. The DOJ sued DirecTV and AT&T in November 2016, saying the satellite-TV company colluded with competitors during contentious negotiations to broadcast Los Angeles Dodgers games. AT&T initially said that it looked forward to defending itself in court. But yesterday, the company agreed to a settlement "without trial or adjudication of any issue of fact or law." https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/attdirectv-promises-us-govt-it-wont-collude-with-other-tv-providers/ -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly) ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20170327040437.GA15638@telecom.csail.mit.edu> Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2017 00:04:38 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> Subject: Verizon Is Sending A Big Message to its Customers With This Change By Samara Lynn Face it, high-speed internet is not cheap, and or those with poor to little credit, it can be a real hassle trying to obtain monthly cable and internet service. Verizon now offers a new prepaid plan that includes high-speed Fios internet access. Fios prepaid offers internet access, cable, and home phone service. Signing up for the service does not require a credit check, deposit, or a credit card. Verizon is also making this a month-to-month service, so there's no contract. There is a $90 installation fee, with all necessary equipment is provided. http://www.blackenterprise.com/technology/verizon-now-offers-prepaid-fios/ -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly) ------------------------------ Message-ID: <B59BBC07-CA07-4831-B66E-5A2139DDAB02@roscom.com> Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2017 22:59:40 -0400 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> Subject: Push for Internet Privacy Rules Moves to Statehouses As Congress acts to roll back regulations limiting access to consumer data, several states are considering laws that could have a wide impact. Now that Republicans are in charge, the federal government is poised to roll back regulations limiting access to consumers' online data. States have other ideas. As on climate change, immigration and a host of other issues, some state legislatures may prove to be a counterweight to Washington by enacting new regulations to increase consumers' privacy rights. http://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/26/technology/internet-privacy-state-legislation-illinois.html ------------------------------ ********************************************* End of telecom Digest Mon, 27 Mar 2017