The benefits of unionization: a case study – National Consumers League

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By Benjamin Judge, NCL Public Policy Intern

Let’s pretend that there are two factories that make the same products for the same company. In one factory the workers are paid $19 dollars per hour and get five weeks of paid vacation. In the other factory the workers are paid $8 dollars an hour with zero paid vacation. Now, what if I were to tell you that the only difference between the factories is the countries in which each factory is located?  That doesn’t seem fair, does it? Well this is a very real example between an IKEA factory in Sweden, which offers good pay and vacation, and an IKEA factory in Danville, Virginia, which does not.

The workers stronghold
IKEA pays its Swedish workers a much higher wage because its workers are unionized and are able to collectively bargain with the executives of the company. Although some in the media considers Sweden a “socialist” state, it should be acknowledged that Sweden is one of the most capitalist nations in the world. The reason it’s now being considered “socialist” is because of its huge social welfare programs and its dedication to worker protections. As stated on the Swedish government’s website, “Employment security and stability are highly valued in Sweden.” It is because of this dedication to labor that Swedish workers are paid well, have safe working condition, and good job benefits.

 The struggle for equal rights
Compared to the Swedish workforce, the average US worker has a harder time unionizing and collectively bargaining, making it much more difficult for employees to improve working conditions. To use the Danville factory as an example, poor working conditions have lead to 1,536 days of work being lost over a 30-month period because of workplace injuries. To combat this, workers in the Danville factory are starting to support the idea of unionizing and have filed for union elections. This is an important step towards getting the wages, benefits, and work conditions that the Virginia workers deserve and would bring American workers more in line with their Swedish counterparts. However, IKEA has employed some dirty tactics in order to stop the workers from unionizing. IKEA recently hired the firm Jackson Lewis, who specialize in employment law, to hold meetings to sway workers against unionizing.

What needs to be done
As supporters of fair labor, we cannot allow IKEA to keep underpaying and undervaluing its employees. Let IKEA know where you stand by signing the Change.org petition urging IKEA to allow their workers to unionize. The petition can be found here.

Committee investigation confirms advocates’ worst fears about “cramming” – National Consumers League

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By Alex Schneider, NCL Public Policy Intern 

For more than a decade phone bill cramming has been costing consumers millions of dollars.  But until the recent release of the Senate Commerce Committee’s report on cramming, few knew just how pervasive and insidious this problem has become.

“Cramming” is defined as the placement of unauthorized third-party charges on a consumers’ monthly phone bill.  The charges could be for anything from yoga classes to fax or voice services to credit protection plans.  But overwhelmingly, they have one thing in common: consumers were charged without ever asking to be signed up for the service.

Since the mid-1990s, third parties have crammed these illegal charges onto monthly phone bills, relying on the concept that consumers will pay their bill without painstakingly analyzing each and every line item.  The phone industry said it would clean up its act, but, as Senator John Rockefeller made clear at a hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee last Wednesday, these voluntary fixes just haven’t worked.

“I plan to introduce legislation that will a put a stop to this,” Rockefeller said. “I simply cannot find any grain of sense in us having to have a hearing like this.”

Astonishing findings

The committee report extends 50 pages and reveals that cramming hurts individuals, government agencies, and businesses of all kinds (including the phone companies themselves!).  The following are a sampling of the committee’s new findings:

  • Verizon, AT&T, and CenturyLink/Qwest earned $650 million since 2006 in $1 and $2 incremental fees as a kickback for permitting third-party phone bill fees.
  • Crammers have doctored authorization forms to charge consumers in egregious ways, including listing deceased relatives as those who signed up for the services and charging unlikely phone numbers, including dedicated lines used for ATMs, alarm systems, modems, and emergency calls.
  • Companies allegedly offering third-party services operated out of fake mailboxes, fake offices, and fake residences.  In one case, the president of a company had no involvement in the business and had been asked to sign some forms by a friend.  In another instance, the address of a cramming company was listed as “Suite #237,” but the ‘suite’ turned out to be a mailbox at a UPS Store, not the greatest of places to host an office meeting.
  • A gaming service charged to customers by a “company” called EZPhoneBill provided the same games as another free website and had no users despite enrolling 20,000 customers at $14.95 per month.
  • Bill blocking procedures initiated by customers did not 100% guarantee they would not be billed.

Solutions To Cramming Are Within Reach

In a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee, NCL urged Congress to follow the lead of Vermont and pass legislation ban third-party charges on landline phone bills.  As we wrote, the findings of the Commerce Committee as well as those of various state Attorneys General, the FCC, and the FTC highlight that there is little legitimate reason why a consumer would want to be billed for a third-party service on their wireline telephone bill.

Indeed, a FCC investigation released last month found that only 20 out of 17,384 consumers actually used the third-party service for which they were billed, a usage rate of roughly 0.1%.

As assistant Attorney General of Vermont, Elliot Burg, noted at last week’s hearing, consumers don’t expect that they can be billed for unrelated products and services on their phone bills.  Thus they aren’t likely to be on the lookout for cramming charges. Lawmakers in Vermont concurred, took action to ban third-party charges, thus saving consumers in that state from future aggravation due to cramming.

Cramming is a Significant Crime with Real Victims

The Commerce Committee estimates that third-party charges on landline phone bills cost consumers $2 billion every year.  That doesn’t include the time and energy that goes into calling customer service to rectify a bill or the losses to businesses that might be required to take precautionary measures to review employee phone bills for potential fraud.

Cramming is not going away.  The fact that AT&T itself has been crammed 80 times, according to Commerce report, is indicative of a larger problem that requires an aggressive solution.  We believe that banning third-party charges on landline phone bills is just that solution.

Consumer Tips for Avoiding Cramming

Until third-party charges are banned, here are some basic steps you can take to avoid falling victim to cramming:

  1. Contact your phone company and ask to opt-out of third-party billing.
  2. Watch for any changes in your monthly phone bill.  Even a change of a few dollars could indicate a cramming charge.
  3. Be careful about answering phone surveys or Internet surveys that ask for your phone number, or participating in online sweepstakes.  If you do participate, make sure you understand any charges you may incur.
  4. Before paying your phone bill, scan for a “third-party” charges section.  If you do not recognize the charge and if you have any questions, immediately call your phone company.
  5. Learn more from the FTC and FCC about filing a complaint or file a complaint directly with NCL at www.fraud.org.

Meet NCL’s 2012 intern class – National Consumers League

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Kae Saelee, California State University, Fullerton located in Fullerton, CA, Senior/ Expected Graduation: December 2012, Major: Criminal Justice with minor in Sociology, Cal State DC Program

What’d you work on at NCL?

I worked closely with John Breyault on various consumer fraud issues. I reviewed a selection of major US radio stations for deceptive advertisements, conducted research on people who were hurt by unlicensed professionals and provided ideas to help with our proposal for a partnership with Facebook. I have helped write LifeSmarts questions to keep the program content current. For Sally, I logged on my experience with the DC Metro system. I have also worked collaboratively with other interns on improving our NCL page on various social media network Web sites.

Any highlights?

I enjoyed attending congressional hearings on the Hill. The most interesting thing I experienced was learning from everyone what they are working on. I was fascinated with the way each staff member was involved and took on unique responsibilities in their respective field. I definitely enjoyed working with the interns and above all, the staff! I always felt welcomed and was provided with great support.

What do you want to do in the future?

I plan on pursuing a career in federal law enforcement.

What was it like to live and work in Washington DC?

Moving to DC from California was definitely a culture shock. I love the politics, diversity of people and public transit. Celebrating 4th of July at our Nation’s Capitol was amazing, by far the best fireworks yet.

Steven Dorshkind, Wayne State University/ Detroit, MI, Junior/ 2014, Political Science/Pre-Medicine, The Semester in Washington Politics with The George Washington University

What made you interested in working at NCL?

When I saw that there was an opening in the child labor department, I felt that it was an excellent way to spend my summer. I have a passion for helping people, and children especially; I felt it was the perfect internship.

Any highlights?

I truly loved going to the conferences and meetings be it at the Hill or in some different office. I was always happy being in meetings that directly affect the future of our nation and the welfare of the citizens.

What do you want to do in the future?

I’d love to run for office in the federal government. I want to get both my MD and my PhD and be able to save people both on the operating table and in my policies.

What was it like to live and work in Washington DC?

Truthfully, it was one of the most fulfilling and memorable experiences in my life. I have never felt so strongly about my future and I feel like D.C. is truly a place for me to be in the future and I’d love to come back and keep on fighting for causes I support. This experience has forever changed my perspective on life and the way I live, I’m completely thankful for all the opportunities I received out here.

Christiana Oatman, University of the Pacific—Stockton, CA, Rising senior, class of 2013, Major: History, minor in gender studies, The Fund for American Studies (Institute of Political Journalism)

What made you interested in working at NCL?
The organization has a strong history in association with the progressive movements of the early 20th century. I am passionate about social justice issues, and thought NCL would provide me with the opportunity to fight for people’s rights.

The communications aspect of my internship sounded interesting as well.

What did you work on?

I worked in Communications. During my time at NCL, I also worked on fraud alerts. I updated the Twitter and Facebook feeds, and made suggestions on how to improve our social networking sites. I wrote multiple blog posts and articles for the NCL Web site. I did a “news roundup” every morning.

Any highlights?

A highlight was following Sally to the table saw testimony and to the ABC news interview.

What will the future hold?

I am excited to bring my knowledge about consumer rights and issues back with me to Stockton, CA. I am going to graduate in the spring, and I will definitely use what I learned here in order to help me find a job that I am interested in. I would definitely be interested in working somewhere that fights for the interests of the many, not the few.

Brianne Pitts, University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA, Rising Senior & May 2013, Honors Interdisciplinary major Political & Social Thought, The Fund for American Studies

What made you interested in working at NCL?

The biggest thing that made me interested in working there was that NCL deals with wage theft, which is very related /similar to the Living Wage Campaign I was involved in at UVA. Because the work was so similar and close to my interests, I wanted to work there right away.

Any highlights?

Highlights would be getting published, going to all those hearings and meetings, meeting important people in the labor and employment community and being in DC upon the passing of constitutionality of the individual mandate of the ACA. I will be coming back to the Living Wage Campaign at my school with a much wider knowledge base and breadth of information and multiple new connections from NCL that I m certain that we will get a living wage for UVA workers this year.

What do you want to do after college?

My long-term career goal was to be a Business Attorney but now from my experiences this summer I want to be a Civil Right Attorney or an International Human Rights Attorney.

Lili Gecker, Brandeis University; Waltham, MA, Class of 2013, Major: Sociology, minors in theatre and art history, Louis D. Brandeis Legacy Fund for Social Justice World of Work (WOW) Fellowship

What made you interested in working at NCL?

I was excited to work at NCL this summer because it was a great opportunity to be in DC and learn about public policy on a federal level. In addition, NCL’s mission statement is a no-brainer for me. Our country is made up of consumers and workers, and we need advocacy groups like NCL to defend their rights and to demand that the government do the same.

What did you work on?

As a public policy intern, I worked on research topics ranging from cell phone cramming, to ticketing issues, to radio fraud. In addition, I had the opportunity to dip my toes into other policy arenas that NCL covers, including public health, food safety, and fair labor standards.

One of the highlights for me this summer was contributing to NCL’s blog. It allowed me the opportunity to work on my research and writing skills, and to express my opinions on topics about which I am most passionate.

What’s in store for you?

I would love to continue working on public policy, advocacy, or organizing. I think I would like a job in the non-profit sector, or maybe a progressive think tank.

What was it like to live and work in Washington DC?

It was a great opportunity to live and work in DC, especially since I am considering returning here after graduation. Highlights included free museums, delicious FrozenYo, and constant political drama.

Katja Meijaard, Amsterdam University College, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 3rd year (senior), graduation in January 2013, Social Sciences. The internship is affiliated with the ICPES program of the Fund For American Studies

What made you interested in working at NCL?

Being from one of the most liberal countries in the world, aiming for equal rights and opportunities is a natural thing. NCL advocates for many things I believe in, such as preventing wage theft and informing consumers about their rights and responsibilities. Additionally, I have always been broadly interested and feel that you should get a great overview of how things are related to each other. NCL covers so many different issues, recognizes their importance and their overlaps. I felt that this focus really appealed to me.

This will always be the summer when the Supreme Court upheld the Health Care Bill, while I was interning at an organization that has been advocating for universal health care! The Court’s ruling took over the whole city and it was so interesting to see how people responded in practice, instead of reading about it.

What was it like to live and work in Washington, DC?

It has been an incredible experience to live and work in the Nation’s capital. The first thing I noticed is how busy the city is and how much energy and devotion people show in their daily routines. Although I was kind of intimidated in the beginning, this work ethic is very contagious. It has been inspiring to see people being passionate about what is going on in the world and wanting to advocate for change. On the other hand, I feel that DC, being the political centre of the world has created a very comfortable environment for the locals. The city is very clean, regardless of the few mice near the student dorms, and most things seem very well organised.

Overall, living in DC and interning for NCL has greatly contributed to my life experience. I got to experience real world politics, got to know inspiring and devoted people and have been part of a great organisation that has only confirmed by ambitions to go into management. I want to thank all of the staff members of NCL for each individually contributing to my DC experience and I really hope at some point our paths will cross again!

Meet NCL’s 2011 intern class – National Consumers League

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This summer, NCL was joined by four hard-working student interns from across the country. They rolled up their sleeves and got to work, conducting policy research, writing posts for our Savvy Consumer blog, creating tough new LifeSmarts questions, and doing some investigation regarding unit pricing at local DC-area drug stores and supermarkets. Meet the guys.

Ben Judge, The Fund for American Studies program, University of North Carolina- Asheville, Class of 2014, Political Science with a minor in Economics

Long-term career goal: Consulting focused on risk-management, or economic or policy analysis, or as a staffer for a Congressional Committee, as a lobbyist, or as a fellow at a think tank—or as Ambassador to the Marshall Islands.

What brought you to NCL?

I have always liked the work that consumer groups do, and I wanted to make a difference in the lives of consumers. Doing Student Government Association, I have done advocacy work before, and this is another channel for me to voice the concerns of those who cannot articulate concerns for themselves.

What kept you busy at NCL this summer?

I have worked on various research projects with most of the staff. I drafted a memo on the consumer benefits of improved infrastructure in the United States, also I have helped in writing a letter to a representative endorsing our support for a particular bill on 4G. I researched court cases against the new health care-reform and wrote various blog posts from everything from sunscreen regulation to raising the minimum wage. For Sally I have worked with the other interns on research and suggestions for supermarkets on their unit pricing systems. I created a database of all the missing children and teenagers in Jamaica for the past year. For fundraising, I have been a part of filling out databases regarding donors and information about grants.

An internship highlight

Going to hearings on the hill and interacting with consumer advocates.

On the horizon for Ben

I will be working on my university’s curriculum as the new Academic Affairs Chair in Student Government. Also I will be helping my school with drafting its Campus Master Plan.

What was it like to live and work in Washington, DC?

It’s been an experience that I will truly never forget. Although I have been working harder then I have in my life it has been so worth it. There is something about going to work during the week and doing work that makes a difference, then on the weekends being able to go to the museums and the attractions that this wonderful city has. It makes me want to come back as often as I can and really work on the Hill as career.

 

Larry Rose, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Class of 2012, Political Science

Long-term career goal: I’m thinking of becoming a lawyer, but not one that protects the pockets of people who already have more than they need.

What made you interested in working at NCL?

I have always been interested in the consumer and labor rights movements. The current political and economic climate has made politicians prioritize the so-called “needs” of corporations over the needs of people. The people need an advocate and I am proud to be one.

What kept you busy at NCL this summer?

I worked on updating our data on check fraud and did some research on the AT&T T-Mobile merger. I also went to some congressional hearings. I wrote several LifeSmarts questions, updated some databases, worked on the Child Labor Coalition’s YouTube channel, and researched whether the Department of Labor’s statistics for minimum wages in the states were up to date.

An internship highlight

I really enjoyed attending congressional hearings. While I still feel that I could do a better job running this country than 99 percent of Congress, it is very interesting to see just how our government works.

On the horizon for Larry

This fall, I am taking 3 300 level classes and a 400 level seminar. This is one of the most difficult course loads available to a student at St. Mary’s. St. Mary’s 400 level classes are all seminars and you are only expected to take one or two of them during your time as a student. To compensate for this, our 300 level courses are far more difficult and require far more work than those at other colleges.

What was it like to live and work in Washington, DC?

Working in DC was very interesting. You always hear people complaining how it is an ugly and corrupt city compared to New York City, but many of the people here are pretty cool and there are places that look completely amazing.

 

Alex Schneider, Louis D. Brandeis Legacy Fund for Social Justice at Brandeis, Brandeis University, Class of 2012, Politics, Economics

Long-term career goal: Law and public policy work

What made you interested in working at NCL?

I have always considered myself a consumer advocate, although not necessarily in a formal sense. As Editor-in-Chief of The Brandeis Hoot student newspaper, I often write weekly editorials advocating for greater oversight over student funds. When a vote was put to students to introduce a new fee to provide constant funds for a student group beyond their funding from current tuition, I researched and eventually opposed the idea, sparking discussion in the pages of our newspaper. I have also written to spotlight inconsistencies in the services provided for student housing and to oppose on-campus ATM fees. Working at the NCL has formalized this advocacy.

What kept you busy at NCL this summer?

Over the summer, I have worked closely with John Breyault on various policy issues, including advocating against the illegal placement of erroneous charges on phone bills, or cramming, and against the masking of caller ID phone numbers, or spoofing, with the intent to defraud. I have also worked collaboratively with the other interns on improving the transparency of unit pricing in supermarkets.

An internship highlight

I have enjoyed delving into topics I had never considered, including while working on projects for the Child Labor Coalition and for the NCL’s special project on wage theft.

On the horizon for Alex:

As my senior year begins, I look forward to, first and foremost, no longer being bound to a meal plan, but also to working on a senior politics thesis, continued work on the campus newspaper, and taking a class with our new President, Frederick Lawrence.

What was it like to live and work in Washington, DC?

July 4 in our nation’s capitol was certainly the highlight of living in DC, including the early morning reading of the Declaration of Independence, the display of patriotism at the annual parade, and the fireworks display with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture playing at the Capitol. And compared with the average temperature of 40 degrees that I’ve experienced both at home in Boston and while abroad in Edinburgh since my summer in Washington, DC last year, it is certainly refreshing to live where there’s real heat.


Michael Finch, Roosevelt Campus Network Summer Academy, Middle Tennessee State University, Class of 2012, Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration

Long-term career goal: Legislative assistant for a member of Congress or a committee handling civil rights/civil liberties issues, or work in a similar capacity at an organization off the Hill

What made you interested in working at NCL?

I was interested in working for NCL upon finding out the wide range of issues they cover. I do a lot of fighting for civil rights/civil liberties and consumer and worker rights definitely tie into that category. Making sure that consumers are informed and protected is a basic, but incredibly important, step toward mitigating a wide variety of social justice issues.

What kept you busy at NCL this summer?

I worked on many different issues, which was one of the best parts of the internship. I worked on updating LifeSmarts questions, which helped me learn quite a bit about a huge variety of topics. Like the other interns, I worked on the unit pricing project for Sally, as well as another project for her regarding payment protection plans for credit cards. I also worked on a case of art fraud for John, where a consumer contacted us directly because he’d been scammed out of nearly $30,000. I also helped Michell with some small wage theft projects. I also wrote two blogs, about the payment protection plans, and tort reform.

An internship highlight

The most interesting and enlightening thing I experienced was searching YouTube for personal wage theft stories. I found one video in particular that showed a kind of wage theft that I had never even thought about before, that really drove home the lack of respect some companies have for their workers, and made the issue of wage theft much more real and much more pressing to me.

On the horizon for Michael

I’ll definitely be bringing my newfound consumer advocacy knowledge back to my campus, and the town I live in. I’m a little worried that I’ll be the scourge of whatever employer I end up getting, because I’ll keep them honest regarding wage theft and food safety issues.

What was it like to live and work in Washington, DC?

I was in DC for a congressional internship in 2009, and both times I’ve been here, I’ve loved it. I love the various communities, the diversity, the history of the area, the readily-accessible public transit, the political environment and opportunities…I’ve known since I came here in 2009 that I wanted to live here long-term.

Consumer advocacy as needed as ever – National Consumers League

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By Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director

This Saturday’s New York Times is filled with interesting consumer stories, which–once again–confirm that the work consumer advocates do is just as important today as ever.

“Consumer Watchdog Is All Ears for Ideas,” talks about Elizabeth Warren and her work at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “After Long Battle, Safer Cribs” is a story about the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) efforts to ensure crib safety, and finally, “Food Companies Act to Protect Consumers from E.Coli Illness,” focuses on Costco and Beef Products Inc decision to test for six additional of the most virulent strains of E.coli pathogens in food.

The CFPB piece is about that new federal agency receiving multiple tweets from people who want it to develop protections that haven’t ever been available on financial transactions from federal agencies. Gail Hillebrand, the associate director of consumer education and engagement at CFPB, (and my former colleague at Consumers Union) said, “We are actively working toward simplifying credit card contracts.” Hallelujah! Its about time someone took at look at these documents that were drafted to confuse and confound, and blew the whistle on their purposeful obfuscation.

In the product safety arena, under new rules adopted by Congress, manufacturers of cribs must undergo 75,000 cycles of testing. It sounds onerous, but as CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum notes, “After dozens of babies had tragically been entrapped and died, and millions of defective cribs had been recalled, the actions of this commission to ensure the swift movement to market of only safer cribs undoubtedly was justified.” Commissioner Nancy Nord disagreed in the Times and said, “We rushed the standard out without doing the hard work upfront to understand the impact of regulation.”

As a rejoinder to Commisioner Nord’s skepticism, three families who lost babies in cribs that proved unsafe wrote poignantly, “You can’t tell the safety of a crib by looking at it, and you certainly can’t maintain it is safe because it met weak industry standards in place prior to 2010.” The new safety standards should address their well-founded concerns.

Finally, in the story on meat safety, one manufacturer and one retailer, Beef Products Inc. and Costco, are testing for six different strains of E. coli that food safety advocates have wanted for years. The Department of Agriculture has a proposal to require this type of testing but unfortunately, it has dragged its feet. This is a breakthrough consumer protection. Hats off to both companies for their leadership in putting consumer safety first. E. coli poisoning can cause serious illness in victims and is totally preventable with a “hold and test” policy that doesn’t ship the products until the testing on every batch is back and is found not dangerous to consumers.

All three pieces prove once again that there is room for stronger consumer protections in food safety, product safety, especially where children are involved, and in financial transactions for consumers.

Parents: Take control over your children’s use of technology – National Consumers League

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From smart phones to tablet computers, to the hundreds of channels and thousands of on-demand video offerings on TV, consumers have never had more options for how to spend their time. For parents, however, the amount of content that is out there can often lead to anxiety – about what their children watch on TV, what Web sites they are visiting and who they are talking to from behind all those electronic screens. So what’s a concerned parent to do?

To address this issue, many communications carriers have created technology that gives parents control over their kids’ use of their devices and services. “Parental control technology” describes a wide variety of software and hardware solutions that parents and caregivers can use to restrict the content their children can access and the people they can communicate with.

The challenge is that, depending on the technology, medium, and service provider, parental control options vary quite a bit, so finding the most effective way to protect your children from adult content you’d rather not let them access can be tough.

To address this, NCL has created a new series of articles to help consumers navigate the landscape of parental control technology and find the options that are best for their families.

Best practices

Parents often worry that, compared to their tech-savvy teens and pre-teens, they have little hope of keeping up with their use of technology. The truth is you don’t have to be a computer or technical expert to prevent your young ones from accessing content that you deem inappropriate. Here are some basic rules of the road to keep your kids safe online.

  • Talk to your children so they know what is acceptable, what sites you want them to stay away from, and who they are allowed to text, for example. This will help both you and your and children start a dialogue about safe use of technology.
  • Find out where they’re hanging out online. Get familiar with the Web sites your child or teen visits. Have them show you their favorite sites and discuss what they like about them.
  • Make sure your children understand that they should never give out identifying information about themselves, friends, or family members. This includes names, addresses, phone numbers, where you work, email addresses, passwords, social security numbers, and credit card numbers.
  • Create a technology “inventory.” Parents should know what technologies their children are using and what those devices are capable of. For example, does the families’ cable television service include on-demand content (potentially with access to adult programming)? Do the children’s cell phones include an Internet browsing capability? Are parental controls on the Internet browser’s software enabled?
  • Set up your computer in a central, open location, like the living room or kitchen, so Internet use can be supervised.
  • Create a family agreement for Internet use that includes items such as hours of use, what sites can be accessed, and what sites are off-limits.
  • Tell your children that if someone they are talking to online harasses, bullies, or makes them uncomfortable in any way, they should talk to a parent, teacher, or an adult they trust.

Every family is unique. We all have our own set of criteria for what we are comfortable with. Not all of these suggestions will apply to your family situation, and they are not intended to be a complete list of all available options. Hopefully, this can at least serve as a starting point to begin a conversation about safe practices for going online, watching TV, and connecting with others.

Parental controls and wireless phones

Many parents have come to the decision that their kids need access to wireless phones – for safety and peace of mind. Luckily, most carriers offer a variety of helpful features that give parents and caregivers a say in what their children see and do with their souped-up phones.

The use and accessibility of smartphones has skyrocketed in recent years, as more and more Americans now turn their wireless device to access the Internet. The ability to immediately access the Internet while on the go marks an important shift in the way we log on, and parents often worry that smartphones are just another way for their young ones to access inappropriate content, connect with strangers, and make unauthorized purchases—all while outside of the home. Luckily, most carriers offer a variety of helpful features that give parents and caregivers a say in what their children see and do with their souped-up phones.

Purchase blocker: prevents users from making purchases that are direct-billed to the account holder, such as ringtones, downloads, applications and games.

Content filters: Similar to blocking sites and services on your home computer, many wireless carriers offer content filtering features that help block access to mobile sites with mature content as well as filter out inappropriate sites from search results. Some carriers, such as Verizon, have created their own rating system of mobile content. Verizon offers three content settings: appropriate for ages seven and up, 13 and up, and 17 and up. These three setting are all easy to change and reset as your child grows and matures.

Usage restrictions: allow parents to set caps on the number of text messages or downloads allowed over a set period, as well as restrict when the phone can be used, who can be called or texted, and what kinds of content can be accessed online. Other restriction features include the ability to set a dollar limit on monthly downloadable purchases, selecting the amount of web browsing/data usage allowed per billing cycle, and creating lists of pre-approved “favorites” and blocked numbers for you child’s phone.

When your child begins to approach the monthly text, download, or talking limits, companies like AT&T will send an advance warning. Once a limit is reached, there will be a notification that the action is restricted and that the service will be stopped until the start of the next usage period. Depending on your wireless carrier, some of these features may cost a small monthly fee.

Family location services: Worried about where your kids are? Almost all major wireless carriers provide a tracking service that lets you know where your family members are. Using your phone or home computer to log on, you can set up certain boundaries for where you expect your child will be. When they move outside the arranged area with their phone, you can receive text or email alerts. You can also receive daily notifications at set times, assuring you that your child arrived home safely after school or other activities. All carries charge an extra monthly fee for this tracking service.

To find more about what options are available on your plan and carrier, contact your wireless service provider directly. For more general information on wireless parental controls, visit the Online Mom.

From phones to TV and computers, make sure your young ones understand that parental controls are not about punishment—they’re about safety. Talk to them about the importance of using the web responsibly instead of simply implementing tough restrictions. Teaching your kids about online safety can be a great opportunity to discuss good decision-making and time management skills. The Internet is an incredible tool that offers an amazing wealth of information and ideas. Go explore!

What are your kids watching?

Many shows on television, whether on broadcast or cable networks, are for adult eyes only. Like with their use of the Internet, there are a variety of different ways you can keep your children from stumbling across explicit or violent content.

Many shows on television, whether on broadcast or cable networks, are for adult eyes only. Like with their use of the Internet, there are a variety of different ways you can keep your children from stumbling across explicit or violent content.

Television

As parents are well aware, the Internet isn’t the only place where kids can be exposed to inappropriate content. Many shows on television, whether on broadcast or cable networks, are for adult eyes only. Like the Internet, there are a variety of different ways you can keep your children from stumbling across explicit or violent content.

Since 2000, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has required that all televisions larger than 13 inches be equipped with what’s called a V-chip. A V-chip lets parents and caregivers block programming that they don’t want children to watch. All television programs are assigned a rating according to a system established by the television industry, which appears onscreen during the first 15 seconds of the program. The rating is encoded with the program before it airs. Parents can use their television set’s remote control to program the V-chip to block programs that carry certain ratings. The current rating system deems what’s appropriate as follows:

  • TV-Y: All children.
  • TV-Y7: Children 7 and up.
  • TV-G: General audience – suitable for children and adults.
  • TV-PG: Parental guidance suggested – violence, sexual situations, coarse language and/or suggestive dialogue.
  • TV-14: Parents strongly cautioned – intense violence, sexual situations, coarse language and/or suggestive dialogue.
  • TV-MA: Mature Audience Only – graphic violence, explicit sexual content and/or offensive language.

For more information on the V-chip, including specific instructions on how to program your V-chip at home, visit the FCC guide by clicking here.

Cable and satellite TV programming

If your family has cable television, you have even more options on how to block access to programs you deem too mature for young eyes. Almost all cable and satellite providers give you an option of creating a PIN you can use to block programs in three different ways:

  • by channel
  • by rating
  • by time period

Depending on your service provider, you may also have the option of blocking specific programs (by date, time, and channel), adult titles in programming guides, and movies that receive certain MPAA ratings on premium movie channels.

For example, Verizon FIOS TV and AT&T U-verse allow users to

  • Selectively block programming by channel or rating.
  • Selectively block Pay-Per-View and On Demand purchases.
  • Set up user-defined PINs (to purchases and block programs.)
  • Hide adult programming from the TV Listings.

For more detailed information, visit the National Cable & Telecommunications Association’s site on getting started with parental controls.

Managing where they are surfing

The Internet is a powerful learning tool. It provides a world of information that is instantly available 24/7. However, the wide-ranging and anonymous nature of the Internet brings with it risks—from explicit or inappropriate content to predators lurking in chat rooms and using instant messaging services. Due to the Web’s potential dangers, many service providers offer free tools and software to help restrict certain types of content and features to keep young Web users safe.

Internet service providers (ISPs)

Web providers like Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast offer such free parental control features as the ability to:

  • Get a Web activity report that shows you all the Web sites your children visit or attempt to visit. You can check out the sites your kids have visited and block specific sites or types of sites you don’t want them going back to.
  • Create unique profiles for different family members with individualized online usage limits. This can be useful if you have children of different ages. One master account can be used to manage the settings of several “subordinate” account users.
  • Block access to certain Web tools such as instant messaging, gaming, chat rooms, and message boards, allowing parents to keep better track of what their children are saying and to whom.
  • Remotely manage your account with the ability to change parental control settings from any computer with Web access, whether in or outside the home.
  • View your child’s online activities as they happen with real-time Web tracking features
  • Allow young Web users to request permission to visit unauthorized Web sites for an adult to approve.
  • Receive a tamper controls alert if someone other than you tries to change the control settings.
  • Set up a timer that limits the amount of time users can spend online.
  • View search monitoring results that track the words and phrases your children search for online to help learn about what they are interested in. This way you can find out if they are trying to seek out blocked or inappropriate content.

To get more detailed information about exactly what controls are available to you, and what the system requirements are, the best bet is to contact your service provider directly. To lean more about the different Internet provider options, visit the Safe Families site here.

Internet browsers and search engines

While Internet service providers offer a variety of great parental control options, you can also set up similar controls on the Web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, etc.) level. Most browsers let you restrict access to certain sites or pre-approve a list of sites your child has the ability to access. For example:

  • Safari users can create child user accounts that let you choose between three levels of Internet access:
    1. give your children unrestricted access to all sites
    2. a setting that only blocks access to certain restricted sites
    3. an option that only lets children access sites you that you have pre-selected. Email and chat features can be set up so that young users can only chat and email with contacts you know and trust. Weekday and weekend computer time limits can be put in place as well.
  • Firefox and Chrome have no built-in parental control features. But, if your computer uses one of these browsers, you can download extensions such as ProCon (which blocks accidental visits to adult sites), LeechBlock (which sets up time limits for different users), and FoxFilter (which blocks content based on user-defined criteria). To learn more about different extension options, click here.
  • Search engines like Google and Bing have “safe search” settings that screens for sites that contain explicit sexual content and deletes them from your search results. This can be a great option since kids often stumble upon inappropriate content by accident when searching seemingly innocent terms.

This is not an exhaustive list of the available browser and search options, but is intended to give you an idea of the types of useful features that are available. At the very least, almost all browsers will give you the option of blocking access to restricted sites, whether it’s a feature that’s available out of the box, or if it’s an extension you have to download.

Consumer advocates urge USDA to declare ‘big six’ E. coli STECs adulterants in beef – National Consumers League

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July 14, 2011

 

Contact: NCL Communications, (202) 835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC — STOP Foodborne Illness (STOP, formerly S.T.O.P. – Safe Tables Our Priority), the National Consumers League (NCL), the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and the Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention, applauded today the announcement by Beef Products, Inc. (BPI) to voluntarily expand the company’s “hold and test” program to include the six additional strains of E. coli identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as harmful pathogens in the food supply. The groups expressed hope that BPI’s decision to begin voluntarily testing and holding for other pathogenic E. coli strains in addition to E. coli O157:H7 will inspire the Obama administration to take additional steps to protect public health and cause the meat industry to cease their opposition to ensuring a higher level of protection for consumers.

FSIS has proposed declaring these strains as adulterants and requiring industry to sample and test for these pathogens and hold the product until final laboratory results declare the product has no detectable level of E. coli O157:H7 and these other six pathogenic strains of E. coli. The Office of Management and Budget has sidelined the proposal since January 2011.

“We now know that other strains of E. coli produce the powerful Shiga toxin, are similar to E.coli O157:H7 in virulence, and are much more prevalent than we once thought.” said Chris Waldrop, Director of Consumer Federation of America’s Food Policy Institute.  “It’s time for the Obama Administration to declare these additional six strains adulterants, require robust sampling protocols by the entire industry and require all companies to hold product from commerce until a negative test result is determined.”

The six strains of non-O157:H7 Shiga-toxin producing E. coli, or non-O157 STEC identified by the CDC as responsible for the majority of the non-O157 illnesses and deaths are O26, O111, O103, O45, O121 and O140.  These strains, like O157, have the ability to cause Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) which is life-threatening.  Unlike other pathogens, such as Salmonella, it only takes a very small number of these STEC organisms to cause illness.

“These strains of E. coli have been identified for years as causing serious illness and even death to consumers.  We have been pressing FSIS, members of Congress and anyone else who will listen about the need to keep these pathogens out of the food supply,” states STOP Foodborne Illness president, Nancy Donley.  “What is it going to take to get FSIS to do the right thing and declare these six identified strains as adulterants and enact programs and standards to prevent them from reaching the marketplace?  We are encouraged to see a company like BPI taking the bull by the horns and independently test for these killer pathogens before being required by government, but we need the entire industry involved and that will only happen when government mandates it.”

“We appreciate that one member of the beef industry is taking a leadership role,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League.  “BPI is well equipped to do this, and will be able to apply their experience with sampling and hold and test for E. coli O157:H7 with the Big Six STECs.”

“A robust sampling program is essential to effective verification that food safety controls are working,” says Sarah Klein, an attorney with Center for Science in the Public Interest.  “We’re pleased that the company is expanding their testing to include additional E. coli hazards and urge them and FSIS to consider antibiotic-resistant Salmonella known to cause illness as well. Consumers deserve protection from all of these hazards, and companies should pursue every approach to provide it.”

“Non-O157 STECs can have a significant public health impact. Many of those sickened will suffer secondary life-long medical complications. We must start tracking and condemning products contaminated with E. coli strains that cause human illness,” notes Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention’s CEO, Barbara Kowalcyk.  “Unfortunately, a USDA proposal to declare the Big Six as adulterants in meat and poultry products has languished in the White House Office of Management and Budget. We have the technology to test for these pathogens. FSIS can and should immediately begin monitoring for the Big Six in meat and poultry products.”

While the consumer groups do not endorse companies or products and are not familiar with the specific test to be used nor the sampling protocol, the groups are pleased that BPI is taking this step to hold and test for non-O157:H7 STECs and encourage others in the industry to do the same. The consumer groups strongly urge OMB to finalize FSIS’ proposal to immediately declare the “Big Six” non-O157 STEC adulterants and put a robust and meaningful testing regiment in place.

# # #

The Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing foodborne illness through research, education, advocacy and service.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest is a non-profit consumer advocacy and education organization that focuses largely on food safety and nutrition issues. It is supported principally by the 850,000 subscribers to its Nutrition Action Healthletter and by foundation grants.

The Consumer Federation of America is a nonprofit association of nearly 300 consumer groups that, since 1968, has sought to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education.

The National Consumers League is the nation’s oldest consumer organization, representing consumers on marketplace and workplace issues.

STOP Foodborne Illness is a national nonprofit public health organization dedicated to the prevention of illness and death from foodborne pathogens by advocating for sound public policy, building public awareness and assisting those impacted by foodborne illness.

Contact:

Barbara Kowalcyk, Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention, 724-58-0767

Sarah Klein, Center for Science in the Public Interest, 202-332-9110

Chris Waldrop, Consumer Federation of America, 202-797-8551

Sally Greenberg, National Consumers League, 202-835-3323

Nancy Donley, STOP Foodborne Illness, 773-269-6555

New bill addresses confusion over meaning of “4G” – National Consumers League

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By Larry Rose, NCL Public Policy Intern

You’ve probably heard the term “4G” being mentioned a lot recently. And, if you’re like most consumers, you probably have no clue as to what that means. In theory, a fourth generation, (4G) wireless network is a network that offers significantly greater speed than the third generation (3G) wireless networks that most smartphones run on.  The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) used to define 4G services as broadband technology that has a speed exceeding 100 M bit/s.  ITU later changed the definition of 4G to any form of mobile broadband that marks a meaningful improvement over 3G services. This definition is vague and allows the telecommunications industry to refer to many different types of mobile broadband as “4G.”

The four largest members of the telecommunications industry all provide services that are advertised as being “4G.” However, these four companies use the term “4G” to refer to three different types of mobile broadband technology. AT&T and T-Mobile advertise their Evolved High Packet Speed Access (HSPA+) networks as being “4G” despite the former company considering its HPSA+ network to be a mere “transition” to “true” 4G technology.  On the other hand, Verizon uses the term to refer to its Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, which typically provides faster speeds than the HPSA+ network. Sprint markets its WiMax technology as “4G” despite being somewhat slower than Verizon’s LTE network. These three services are considerably different from one another from a technological point of view, but they all operate under the same marketing label.  This creates difficulties for consumers who are trying to determine which wireless service to purchase.

Fortunately, consumers have found themselves a champion in Congress. Last month, Representative Anna Eshoo of California introduced H.R. 2281, the Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act.  This bill requires wireless service providers to disclose information about the speed, reliability, price, network management policies and the terms of the wireless service, as well as costs for the service that are not included in the stated price and the technology used to provide the service. The bill would also direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create a side-by-side comparison of the speeds and prices of the 4G services provided by the top 10 U.S. wireless carriers.

The telecommunications industry isn’t pleased with this bill. According to the CTIA, the bill adds unnecessary regulation at a time that Congress should be focused on finding more spectrum to devote to 4G technology.

A study from Nielson found that only two out of five consumers understand what the term “4G” actually means. 27% of respondents incorrectly believed that Apple’s iPhone 4 offers 4G technology . That false assumption was most likely aided by the fact that a previous version of the iPhone was called “iPhone 3G,” after the type of mobile broadband that it used.

Last week, NCL, joined the ranks of Consumers Union, Public Knowledge, Media Access Project and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Initiative in endorsing the Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act. In an economy where many consumers rely on mobile broadband for Internet access, it is essential that consumers know what type of mobile broadband service they are purchasing.

NCL statement on Senate Commerce Committee Cramming Report and recent FCC proposal to address mystery fees – National Consumers League

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July 13, 2011

Contact: NCL Communications, (202) 835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC–The following statement is attributable to National Consumers League Executive Director Sally Greenberg:

Chairman Rockefeller’s report on the impact of cramming on landline phone bills confirms our fears about the extent of the problem. As reported by the Federal Communications Commission, this is an issue that touches tens of millions of households, with few even aware that they are victims. At a time of economic distress, it is unacceptable that billions of dollars in cramming charges are being siphoned out of consumers’ pockets. That the nation’s telecommunications carriers were aware of the problem, and indeed may have profited from this fraud belies the futility of voluntary industry efforts to address cramming.

The FCC’s proposed rules to increase disclosure requirements and require free third-party billing blocking do not go far enough. For more than a decade, consumers have been asked to rely on weak regulatory safeguards and voluntary industry standards for protection from cramming. As Chairman Rockefeller’s report vividly illustrates, these half-measures are not working.

Third-party billing on landline phone bills is a relic of a previous telecommunications era that scam artists are exploiting to steal billions from consumers. We see few legitimate reasons why a consumer would need to have a charge for a product or service billed on a landline phone account. It is for these reasons that NCL is calling on Congress to pass national legislation modeled on Vermont’s recently enacted law that prohibits third-party billing on landline phone accounts, with few exceptions.

Cramming fraud has gone on long enough and cost consumers far too much. Where federal regulators and the telecommunications industry have failed in protecting consumers, Congress must act.

NCL’s letter to Chairman Rockefeller regarding this issue is available here.

Consumer who have been victims of cramming fraud are encouraged to file a complaint with NCL’s Fraud Center at www.fraud.org.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

The good banker – National Consumers League

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By Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director

One of the best brains on financial reform is, in my view, Joe Nocera. He writes for the NYTimes and is a frequent guest on NPR. Nocera recently wrote a NY Times piece about a man he calls “the good banker.” Why does this man, Robert Wilmers, CEO of M& T bank, earn Nocera’s respect? Wilmers is a unique critic of his profession. I find that folks in the business community that are capable of self-criticism are rare indeed; most want to ignore or overlook the bad practices that are perpetuated by their companies.

But Wilmers finds plenty of fault in the banking business and it bothers him that bankers have fallen to the “third worst profession” in the public’s mind. He says that much of the money banks earn comes from trading profits “rather than prudent extension of credit that furthers commerce.” We agree. Wilmers believes that derivatives helped bring about the financial crisis and should be regulated. We agree. He says that bank executives are wildly overpaid. Boy, do we agree with that. He says that the biggest banks, the Too Big to Fail Banks – were operating in an “unsafe business model.” We agree.

I’ve said in previous blogs that I wish banks would make money the old-fashioned way – extend loans at 6 or 7 percent and pay depositors 2-3 percent interest. But that’s not big bucks, so that business model – while still in use – is sidelined. Instead, banks use excessive fees – $39 overdraft charges, fees for going over your spending limits – often paid by those with the most limited incomes–the stuff that Elizabeth Warren calls “tricks and traps” – are used to make their executives rich. Or they trade in derivatives and earn big fees for the transactions.

Nocera notes that in 2007, the chief execs of the Too Big To Fail Banks made, on average $26 million. That’s more than double the compensation of the top nonblank Fortune 500 executives. Wilmers himself made $2 million, a great salary by any standard but reasonable relative to his performance (in 30 years he built the bank from a $2 billion operation to assets of $68 billion today).

Wilmers also believes that Glass Steagall Act – the Depression era law that separated commercial and investment banks – should never have been abolished. I couldn’t agree more. The repeal of Glass Steagall is one of the worst disasters of deregulation. Nocera quotes from Wilmers speech at his company’s annual meeting. He said he wants to find “ways to continue to attract deposits, make sound loans and grow in accordance with our historic credit quality standards.”  Someone should give this very unusual CEO an award!