Cable/Telecom Archives | Citizens Utility Board

Save energy and money with these winter efficiency tips

Sophia — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 21:05:38 +0000

Energy efficiency tips for getting through Illinois’ rough winters: Get rid of the clutter. Make sure heating vents are open and not blocked by furniture or carpet. Clean dust from vents or along baseboard heaters. Weatherstrip. Weatherstripping can be used to seal air leaks around doors and windows. By keeping warm air in and preventing cold outside air from leaking indoors, weatherstripping can help you save on your heating bills. This is especially true in older homes with leaky windows and doors. Energy.gov’s helpful fact sheet breaks down your weatherstripping options and provides some installation guidance. (Also, if you have storm doors or windows, make sure to install them before the cold arrives. Now is a good time to inspect and repair them, if necessary.) Utilize your blinds. During the day, open your blinds and let sunlight warm and light your home. Once the sun goes down, close your blinds to prevent cold air from getting in. If you still feel cold air coming from your windows, consider the weatherstripping tips above. You also can seal windows with clear plastic wrap and purchasing insulated curtains for additional layers of defense. Be smart about your thermostat. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that consumers can save up to 10% on their energy bills by turning the thermostat down 7-10 degrees for eight hours a day. The Energy Department recommends keeping your thermostat at about 68-70 degrees when you’re home and awake, and lowering it when you’re leaving the house or going to sleep. Don’t ever set it below 55 degrees–that risks freezing your pipes. Consider buying a programmable or smart thermostat. Check the attic. Insulating your attic can be the most cost-effective way to cut heating costs. Look across your attic floor. If the insulation is even with or below the attic floor joists, it’s time to add more. (CUB has some great tips on picking the right insulation in our WatchBlog article: Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audit.) Switch the direction of your fan. In the winter, your fan should rotate clockwise (from your position looking up at it) at the slowest speed. Turning clockwise, the fan’s blades pull cold air up, which then pushes warm air down toward the room’s occupants. Used in combination with a wise temperature setting, this tip can save consumers up to 15 percent on their winter bills. If you’re not sure how to change the direction of your ceiling fan, watch CUB’s quick how-to video. Clean or change your furnace filter monthly, or as recommended. This is an important maintenance step to ensure your furnace is operating properly and efficiently. You should check your filter monthly. (See heating tips from the Department of Energy. Also, before the winter, try to schedule an HVAC inspection with a reputable contractor. Most systems last 10 to 15 years but can last longer and run more efficiently with maintenance. An inspector can check your system to ensure everything is working properly.) Prepare the fireplace. Make sure your fireplace is inspected and cleaned before you use it in the winter. When you’re not using your fireplace, make sure the damper is closed to prevent warm air from […]

The post Save energy and money with these winter efficiency tips appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Breaking news about your cable and internet bills (opportunities to take action)

Jim Chilsen — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 21:24:42 +0000

We have important updates about your cable and internet bills–some good news, some hopeful news and some bad news (along with a call to action). The good news: FCC cracks down on “junk fees” In March, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stood up for consumers and cracked down on deceptive “junk fees.” Those are unadvertised charges like the “Broadcast TV Fee” and “Regional Sports Fee” that cable companies use to jack up our bills while hiding the real cost of the service. The FCC order requires companies to “clearly and prominently” give customers the total price of their service upfront. “TV providers often use deceptive junk fees to hide the real price of their services,” the FCC said. “The FCC is putting an end to this form of price masking…” It would be better if these all-too-lightly-regulated companies didn’t charge such high prices to begin with–but this is a step in the right direction. The FCC also is considering a proposal to ban early termination fees. Stay tuned! The hopeful news: FCC set to vote to restore internet protections The FCC has scheduled an April 25 vote on a proposal to restore “net neutrality” protections that the commission, under former leadership, killed in 2017. The proposed rules would treat broadband as an essential telecommunications service under Title II of the federal Communications Act. It would prohibit internet companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon from blocking or throttling internet traffic or selling “fast lanes” that prioritize some traffic over others. This is a pocketbook issue: If website operators like Amazon are forced to pay internet providers more for a fast lane, they could charge us more for their services. This is a popular issue with consumers. So far, more than 1,000 have signed our petition in support of these consumer protections. Please join them! The bad news: Affordable internet program is on life support (act now!) A call to action: Please send a message to Washington in favor of legislation that would continue the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). This helpful program gives people access to internet, but it is set to run out of money in a matter of weeks! The ACP was created during the pandemic, giving lower-income households a discount on internet service. But because of a lack of funding, this month is set to be the last the ACP will provide full discounts on internet service. It will provide reduced benefits in May, until completely running out of money. Here’s why the ACP should be continued: Broadband is an essential service, like power or water, and the ACP has been a huge success: More than 22 million homes–one in six nationwide–are using it to subscribe to broadband service. The ACP is cost-effective: Affordable broadband gives people access to educational and employment opportunities that help them secure good jobs. Also, online health-care services save money for individual consumers and the Medicaid program. The ACP has wide support, and that’s why a bipartisan group of legislators in Washington has proposed the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act, which would fund the program until the end of the year. This is urgent. A Federal […]

The post Breaking news about your cable and internet bills (opportunities to take action) appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

AT&T’s response to last week’s nationwide outage

Elizabeth — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 21:01:20 +0000

Last week, AT&T’s cellular outage lasted several hours and impacted customers nationwide. AT&T has come out since then with an apology and reassurance that the outage was a result of “the application and execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network, not a cyberattack.” They plan to give affected customers a $5 bill credit to remedy the outage, which roughly translates as the average cost of a full day of service. This credit will be applied to customers’ bills in the next 1-2 billing cycles. A CUB staffer got this text over the weekend: AT&T clarified that they have no evidence or reason to believe that any customer data was compromised during the event. CUB asks Illinois consumers– is this enough? Read more: USA Today: AT&T ‘making it right’ with $5 credit to customers after last week’s hours long outage Bloomberg: AT&T Customers to Get Billing Credit After Wireless Outage CNBC: In a letter to employees, AT&T CEO apologizes for widespread outage, says some customers will receive credits

The post AT&T’s response to last week’s nationwide outage appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

New FCC program helps income-qualified consumers access internet

Hannah — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 04:10:45 +0000

The Affordable Connectivity Program is a new benefit program through the Federal Communications Commission that helps ensure households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible consumers are limited to one monthly service discount per household. A household is eligible if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below: Has an income that is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines; Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC or Lifeline; Participates in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations; Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020, 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 school year; Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income program. Not all broadband providers are participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Find broadband service providers offering the benefit in your state or territory by following this link. Service providers can find more information about how to participate here. Eligible households must apply for the program AND contact a participating provider to select a service plan. Go to ACPBenefit.org to submit an application or print out a mail-in application. Contact your preferred participating provider to select a plan and have the discount applied to your bill. Note: Some providers may have an alternative application that they will ask you to complete.

The post New FCC program helps income-qualified consumers access internet appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Phone companies to phase out 3G in 2022 – what you need to know

Hannah — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 14:20:05 +0000

Cellphone companies are shutting down their 3G networks over the next several months. As a result, many older cellphones will not be able to make or receive calls or texts, including dialing 911. If you have a 3G phone, you may need to replace your device. The phase-out will start as early as Jan. 1, 2022, though plans and timing to phase out 3G services will vary by company and may change, the FCC said. Consult your mobile provider’s website for the most up-to-date information. AT&T announced that it will finish shutting down its 3G network by February 2022. Verizon will wrap up its 3G network shutdown by December 31, 2022. T-Mobile announced that it will complete the shutdown of Sprint’s 3G network by March 31, 2022 and Sprint’s 4G LTE network by June 30, 2022. It also announced it will shut down T-Mobile’s 3G network by July 1, 2022. If your mobile carrier is not listed here, you may still be affected. Other carriers such as Cricket, Boost and Straight Talk utilize these networks. 3G is the third generation of wireless mobile technology that allows mobile phones to connect to the internet. Each new generation has new frequency bands and higher data transmission rates. Most phones now use 4G and 5G. This switch will affect 3G mobile phones and certain older 4G mobile phones that do not support Voice Over LTE or HD Voice. This could potentially impact other devices that also rely on 3G networks, such as medical devices, tablets, smart watches and home security systems. If you do not replace or upgrade your device, your device will not function. If you have a 3G device, don’t panic, but don’t procrastinate. Contact your carrier about getting a newer version of the device or a software upgrade. If you are unsure if your device uses 3G networks, check the device’s user manual, consult the network settings on your device or contact the company.

The post Phone companies to phase out 3G in 2022 – what you need to know appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

AT&T raises prices for Consumer’s Choice landline plans

Hannah — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 15:05:13 +0000

AT&T has once again raised prices for its Consumer’s Choice landline calling plans. See the new prices below: Plan Monthly Fee Plan Details Call Plan 30 Downtown Chicago: $16.25 Rest of Chicago and adjacent suburbs: $19.25 Rest of Illinois: $20.75 30 local (bands A and B) calls (to places within 15 miles of your home). Additional local calls are 6 cents each. Local Unlimited Package Downtown Chicago: $20.75 Rest of Chicago and adjacent suburbs: $20.75 Rest of Illinois: $20.75 Unlimited local (bands A and B) calls Flat Rate Package Downtown Chicago: $29 Rest of Chicago and adjacent suburbs: $32 Rest of Illinois: $32.75 Unlimited local calls (bands A and B) and two calling features AT&T ended the Consumer’s Choice plans, Illinois’ best local landline deals, in November 2017. Most, if not all, Consumer’s Choice customers were then automatically switched to other landline plans through AT&T. These new offers appeared to be identical to Consumer’s Choice plans—except they’re more expensive. Remember that these plans are not under a price freeze. The prices have increased in the past and will probably go up again in the future. Check your bill each month to ensure you’re not paying more than you anticipated. As landline plans increase in price, consider your other options. Basic cellphone plans, which often include unlimited calling and texting, are usually less than $20. Bundling your services, such as landline, Internet and cable, may result in a lower price as well. Read our fact sheet.

The post AT&T raises prices for Consumer’s Choice landline plans appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Update: What’s going on with net neutrality?

Hannah — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 18:19:46 +0000

President Joe Biden this summer signed an executive order restoring several internet consumer protections (a.k.a. “net neutrality” provisions) that were overturned by the Trump administration. But the order awaits a vote by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is still missing a fifth commissioner after Ajit Pai stepped down in January. Urge the White House to break the deadlock by nominating a fifth commissioner: Sign our petition. The Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, signed in July, would take a stand against large broadband providers by restoring net neutrality. It also contains provisions that would: End early termination fees for consumers who switch broadband providers before their contract expires Require ISPs to regularly report their prices to the commission Institute a “nutrition label” for ISPs. Such labeling standardizes the format for providers to list their price and data allowances, making it easy for consumers to read and understand, similar to a nutrition label on food packaging. Put an end to ISP deals with multi-unit properties. These partnerships force tenants into contracts with one particular provider and eliminates consumer choice. Net neutrality is the idea that internet service providers should treat all internet communications equally, meaning that they can’t prioritize some data and discriminate against others. For example, Comcast shouldn’t be able to stop or slow consumers from watching Netflix to encourage you to keep your cable service. CUB and other consumer advocates supported the historic net neutrality protections approved by the FCC in 2015, arguing that maintaining an equal internet playing field is necessary to maintain fair prices and promote competition and innovation. “For example, had internet providers blocked or severely limited video streaming in the mid-2000s, we might not have Netflix or YouTube today,” reporter Klint Finley wrote for Wired. In 2017, the FCC, under Pai’s leadership, voted to repeal net neutrality protections. Pai stepped down in January, and the FCC now has the chance to restore internet consumer protections. Current acting FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement that she welcomes the Biden administration’s effort to “enhance competition in the American economy and in the nation’s communications sector.” But none of this can happen until President Biden nominates a fifth commissioner, who then must be confirmed by the Senate. After Pai’s departure, the remaining four members are deadlocked along party lines — there’s no tie-breaking vote. “The executive order is important, but the processes and personnel to actually move ahead on these priorities are not in place yet… the agency needs a fifth commissioner to fully function,” said Matt Wood, vice president of policy and general counsel for Free Press.

The post Update: What’s going on with net neutrality? appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

The dos and don’ts of robocalls

Sophia — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 19:17:21 +0000

Do you get several calls a day from “Scam Likely?” That probably means your number is targeted by robocalls–prerecorded messages from computer generated dialers. Robocalls are irritating, costly, and often illegal. In fact, the call blocking app TrueCaller found that consumers had already lost nearly $30 billion in the first part of the year, with robocalls estimated to reach 52 billion calls in 2021. So what can you do? The easiest way to avoid falling victim to scammers is to decline calls from unknown numbers and never give out your personal information. If someone is genuinely trying to reach you, they will most likely leave a voicemail. Here are a few of CUB’s do’s and don’ts when it comes to robocalls: Do: Confirm you’re on the National Do Not Call Registry The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers a free Do Not Call registry where consumers can register their phone numbers to reduce calls from telemarketers. Remember, robocallers that are selling something need to get your prior written approval to call you, so if you didn’t give your OK, the sales call you’re receiving is illegal. True, the registry won’t block scammers that flaunt the rules, but it will block all the telemarketers that do follow the restrictions—and that’s still a lot. To register your number, visit www.donotcall.gov, or call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you would like to register. Don’t: Say “yes” Some scammers will try to trick you into saying “yes” by asking questions like “can you hear me now?” They will then use that recording as proof that you agreed to a costly deal you never wanted. If you find yourself on the line with an automated messenger, the best thing to do is hang up. Do: Use your phone’s features to your advantage If you receive a robocall, you can block that number from ever calling you again. Additionally, your phone may offer spam-blocking services. Turning this feature on will automatically decline calls from unknown numbers. Lastly, turning on the Do Not Disturb feature will send all of your calls directly to voicemail. This way, you can monitor who called you through voicemails or you can allow for only your contacts to get through. For instructions on how to use spam protection click here for Apple iPhones and here for Google Androids. Don’t: Call the number back You may have the urge to call the number back to give the scam artist an earful. However, calling them back might lead to an increase in calls you receive since scammers now know your phone number is active. It’s best to simply block that number from calling you again. If you get harassed by robocalls, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by visiting FTC.gov/complaint and click on the FTC Complaint Assistant icon, or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. For full tips, order CUB’s robocalls guide.

The post The dos and don’ts of robocalls appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

CUB releases new guide to help Illinois consumers shop phone market

Hannah — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 16:46:28 +0000

The Citizens Utility Board announced that it has released a new “Guide to Phone Choices” to help Illinois consumers navigate their options in the telecom market. Visit CitizensUtilityBoard.org to order a free copy of the 16-page publication, which includes information about selecting cellphone, landline and VoIP service. The phone landscape has shifted dramatically over the last decade. Traditional landlines have largely been replaced by VoIP, smartphones, bundled offers and Zoom. Tech giants seem as powerful as ever, and as a result, consumers face tough choices and high price tags. A family of four can easily spend more than $200 a month on phone service. When shopping for phone options, consumers need good information. That’s where CUB’s Guide to Phone Choices comes in. The booklet also includes helpful sections on whether or not bundling is a good deal, dialing 911, calling internationally and videoconferencing. “We know that Illinois consumers—and even CUB staffers—can get overwhelmed by all the factors to consider when selecting phone service,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. “This guide gives consumers the tools they need to make the right decisions for their lifestyle and wallet.”

The post CUB releases new guide to help Illinois consumers shop phone market appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Utility Diaries: A Month of Bills in Urbana, Illinois

Hannah — Tue, 11 May 2021 13:55:47 +0000

In Utility Diaries, we look at what different households across Illinois pay in a month for utility expenses. Today’s household consists of two people in a rented house in Urbana. Housing Background Location: Urbana, IL Household Size: 2 people Housing Type: House Rent or Own: Rent Square Footage: 1,215 Year Built: 1954 Energy Usage Heating: Gas forced-air furnace Cooling: Central air Average Monthly Gas Usage: 65 therms Highest Gas Month: February, 194 therms Average Monthly Electric Usage: 361 kilowatt-hours Highest Electric Month: August, 591 kilowatt-hours Water Usage Average Monthly Water Usage: 4,000 gallons Highest Water Month: July, 4,500 gallons Telecom Plans Internet Speed: 200 Mbps Cellphone Plan: Unlimited calls, text, and data (1 line) Utility Companies and Charges Last Month: Gas: Ameren Illinois, $61.81 Electric: Ameren Illinois, $34.35 Water: Illinois American, $52.44 Sewer: Urbana & Champaign Sanitary District (paid by landlord) Internet: Xfinity by Comcast, $50 Cell Phone: Verizon, $42 Garbage: Mel’s Disposal, $18 Recycling: U-CYCLE (free for Urbana residents) Last Month’s Total: $216.60 Do you have an alternative electric or gas supplier? We do not. The City of Urbana has a municipal aggregation contract for residential electricity supply with Homefield Energy that expires in January 2023, but we opted out of the program. Instead, we are signed up for Ameren’s Power Smart Pricing program, where we pay the real-time hourly rate for electricity. Even counting the monthly program fee of $2.25, over the last 12 months, we have saved $9.74. Have you participated in any programs to save on your bills? In addition to Ameren’s Power Smart Pricing program, we are enrolled in Ameren’s Peak Time Rewards program. Every summer, we are notified on days where Ameren expects high electricity use, and if we lower our usage that day, we get automatic credits on our bill. While we do not qualify for Ameren’s Income Qualified energy efficiency program, we were able to get a “free”* smart thermostat from Ameren, as well as discounted LED lightbulbs. *We didn’t pay anything for the thermostat, but like all Ameren customers, we pay into the energy efficiency programs through a tax on our monthly bill. What do you do to save energy and water at home? We use LEDs and faucet aerators on the bathroom and kitchen sinks. We also unplug nonessential appliances (not the fridge) when we’re not using them and wash clothes on the cold setting. In the winter, we keep the temperature around 66 degrees, and in the summer, 78 degrees. We’ve thought about putting a plastic bottle with rocks in it in the toilet water tank to retrofit our toilets into low-flow toilets but haven’t done that yet. Because we rent, we aren’t in control of the efficiency of our furnace, AC and refrigerator/freezer. Our home is older, very drafty and could use better insulation, but that’s out of our control. We have patched up some cracks in the baseboards with caulk as DIY air sealing. What are the details of your telecom plans? If you have internet service, do you own your modem and router? If you have cellphone service, do you own your phone? We are on […]

The post Utility Diaries: A Month of Bills in Urbana, Illinois appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.