Cable lobby and Republicans fight proposed ban on early termination fees

 Cable lobby and Republicans fight proposed ban on early termination fees

"Today's action proposes to adopt customer service protections that prohibit cable operators and DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) providers from imposing a fee for the early termination of a cable or DBS video service contract," the FCC said. "Additionally, the NPRM recommends the adoption of customer service protections to require cable and DBS providers to grant subscribers a prorated credit or rebate for the remaining whole days in a monthly or periodic billing cycle after the subscriber cancels service."

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said, "Consumers are tired of these junk fees. They now have more choices when it comes to video content. But these friction-filled tactics to keep us subscribing to our current providers are aggravating and unfair. So today we kick off a rulemaking to put an end to these practices."

Billions are on the line for lenders as White House finalizes credit card late fee cap

 Billions are on the line for lenders as White House finalizes credit card late fee cap

Late fees upward of $41 “are significantly higher than the pre-charge-off collection costs” cited by an unnamed credit union trade group, per the NPRM.

Instead, the $8 fee cap shows the CFPB “dug down, did their research, looked at industry data and came out with a number that they thought best reflected a bank’s ability to recover the cost associated with a late payment,” said Shahid Naeem, senior policy analyst at AELP.

“The fact that the CFPB has determined that $8 is sufficient to cover the costs and banks are charging $41, that’s significant,” said Christine Hines, a legislative director for the National Association of Consumer Advocates. “And it shows that somewhere, there’s conduct that needs to be curbed. Clearly.”

CFPB Director Rohit Chopra told senators last month that banks should support the proposal “if it’s not a core part of their profit model.”

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Opinion: Amazon’s takeover of the Inland Empire is a textbook case of corporate manipulation

 Opinion: Amazon’s takeover of the Inland Empire is a textbook case of corporate manipulation

A leaked memo from within Amazon details the company’s public relations efforts to sway decisions in the region to serve its own interests. The plan for 2024 included strategic donations, currying favor with local politicians, methods of cultivating allies and placing of “Amazonians” within community groups and local boards like sleeper spies. Together, these are intended to overcome vocal community opposition to Amazon’s labor exploitation and union-busting tactics and the environmental harms of warehouse proliferation.

The memo puts into words what environmental justice advocates have known all along: what we have traced through political donation patterns, what is facilitated by legal loopholes. The memo gives shape to invisible protagonists who have tilted city council loyalties toward outside developers instead of residents. These tactics are not illegal for the most part. But Amazon’s memo is a stark representation of the kind of manipulation that has systematically eroded community voices in places like the Inland Empire.