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Cable/Telecom

Add your name to the fight!

More than 1,000 CUB followers have told the FCC: Reject the proposed $45 billion Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger, or force the companies to make major concessions. Sign our petition! Why is this such a big deal? First of all, the No. 1 cable company is buying the No. 2, and the No. 1 broadband…...

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You’ll need an aspirin for these headaches

At CUB, we couldn’t do the work we do—saving individual  consumers hundreds of dollars on their utility bills, advocating for consumer protections in Springfield, and fighting rate-hike hungry energy companies—without support and input from our members.  That’s why we sent a survey out last November asking you  to rate your…...

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Protect my cable!

Comcast announced plans to buy Time Warner Cable in a $45 billion deal that unites the nation’s two largest cable/Internet providers. Before that happens, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must approve the merger. Cable customers have for years expressed frustration about lack of options, poor service and astronomical prices.  We can’t…...

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Results are in…

We asked Tuesday what you thought of Comcast’s $45.2 billion plan to buy out Time Warner Cable, which would mark the acquisition of the second largest cable/Internet company by the first largest.  The results are pretty conclusive: survey respondents do not think the merger will be good for consumers– at…...

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CUB Survey: To merge or not to merge?

Comcast, the largest cable/Internet provider in the country, recently announced plans to take over Time Warner Cable, the second largest provider, for $45.2 billion–pending approval from the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission. Opponents of the deal maintain that it could seriously compromise competition, net neutrality, and customer…...

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State of high-speed Internet in the U.S.: Maddening, isn’t it?

This chart, from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), makes painfully clear what we’ve been hearing for so long: Consumers in the United States pay more for slower broadband. It sparked some strong opinions on CUB’s Facebook page. “Wow, that makes me sick,” said one CUB fan. So…...

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The $42.5 billion Time Warner deal: Can Comcast pass the FCC test?

As Comcast today announced plans to gobble up Time Warner Cable for $45.2 billion, one of its favorite talking points was that the deal won’t hurt competition because the companies’ geographic markets don’t overlap. OK, but that’s indicative of the big problem. The cable/Internet market already is plagued by consolidation…...

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Giving Tuesday: For CUB, ALL the battles are big

In honor of “Giving Tuesday”–the national day to support nonprofits–CUB has created this nifty Holiday eCard, with the CFL candle theme, pictured here. It allows people to honor friends and family this Holiday season–and support CUB’s fight for lower utility bills. That fight made headlines this year, as we helped to…...

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Paid TV fails the lie detector test

Ever gotten the bait and switch from your cable company? Nowadays the best strategy to keep your TV and Internet bill low appears to be calling every few months to negotiate. CUB believes consumers should have the option of paying only for the channels they watch. If you agree, take…...

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CUB’s Consumer Advocacy Team: Meet the CUB crew fighting for you!

Each year, CUB’s Consumer Advocacy Department handles nearly 10,000 calls, emails and letters from Illinoisans with questions or complaints about utility service. The team has saved individuals thousands of dollars by identifying errors on electric, gas and phone bills. Consumer Advocacy Director Sandra Marcelin-Reme said a lot of problems stem from…...

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