The Federal Communications Commission is encouraging companies that sell monthly Internet service to use labels that resemble nutritional-fact food labels to inform customers about price and performance of service. The FCC says that the “broadband facts” labels will help consumers make informed decisions about the purchase of broadband service. The Hill has the story, here. […]
Author Archives: Allison Zieve
The Federal Trade Commission has charged that Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. deceived consumers with the advertising campaign it used to promote its supposedly “clean diesel” VWs and Audis, which Volkswagen fitted with illegal emission defeat devices designed to mask high emissions during government tests. The FTC is seeking a court order requiring Volkswagen to […]
The Washington Post reports: The Food and Drug Administration said this month that it will delay enforcement of menu labeling rules — again — until next year. Passed as part of the health care overhaul in 2010, the rules will eventually require restaurants and other establishments that sell prepared foods and have 20 or more […]
The Center for Public Integrity reports today on the expensive lobbying effort by the big tobacco companies to fend off state taxes and regulation of e-cigarettes. Despite the tobacco industry’s tarnished public image, it is operating a powerful and massive influence machine in statehouses from Salt Lake City to Topeka. With a playbook crafted nearly […]
The New York Times reports today: In August of 2009, after ruptured airbag inflators in Honda vehicles were linked to least four injuries and a death, the automaker quietly requested a design change and did not notify U.S. regulators, Honda confirmed in response to inquiries from Reuters. Honda Motor Co asked supplier Takata Corp to […]
The Department of Education announced on Friday a proposal to establish borrower-friendly processes for seeking and obtaining loan relief triggered by unscrupulous conduct by higher education institutions. The Department also proposed options to protect students from the use of mandatory arbitration provisions in enrollment agreements. The proposals were made in connection with an ongoing negotiated […]
Ralph Nader has an article on tort law entitled "Suing for Justice – Your lawsuits are good for America" in April's edition of Harper's Magazine. His conclusion: We are at a moment in our legal history at which the tort system, built over the course of a century in courts of law by tens of […]
The Hill reports: Government debt collectors could only robocall a person three times per month and would have to stop calling when asked to do so, according to a draft proposal at the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC released more details of the draft proposal circulated among the commissioners last month. The new details were […]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler has circulated for consideration by the full Commission a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking "to ensure consumers have the tools they need to make informed choices about how and whether their data is used and shared by their broadband providers." The proposal would apply the privacy requirements of the Communications […]
The Food and Drug Administration and Amarin, the manufacturer of a prescription fish-oil drug, have settled Amarin's lawsuit challenging the FDA's authority to restrict the company from touting its product for an unapproved use. The Washington Post reports that the FDA said the settlement is “specific to this particular case and situation,” and did not […]