Pay Too Much For Internet? City-owned Internet services offer cheaper and more transparent pricing

The private sector doesn't always provide better service or better price. I'd be interested in seeing Governor Murphy look into this possibility.

There is an interesting article at ArsTechnica.com that discusses how city-owned Internet services offer cheaper and more transparent pricing. The data shows why customers want municipal supplied broadband—and why telecom industry fears it.

Municipal broadband networks generally offer cheaper entry-level prices than private Internet providers, and the city-run networks also make it easier for customers to find out the real price of service, a new study from Harvard University researchers found.

Researchers collected advertised prices for entry-level broadband plans—those meeting the federal standard of at least 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload speeds—offered by 40 community-owned ISPs and compared them to advertised prices from private competitors.

The report by researchers at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard doesn't provide a complete picture of municipal vs. private pricing. But that's largely because data about private ISPs' prices is often more difficult to get than information about municipal network pricing, the report says.

In cases where the researchers were able to compare municipal prices to private ISP prices, the city-run networks almost always offered lower prices. This may help explain why the broadband industry has repeatedly fought against the expansion of municipal broadband networks. This fight includes pushing legislators to draft anti-municipal broadband state laws, lobbying against local ballot initiatives, and filing lawsuits against cities that build their own networks....

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Take Action To Label Genetically Engineered Foods. Call-in Day on Wednesday, January 16

From Food & Water Watch

We all have the right to know if the foods we are eating have been Genetically Engineered.


New Jersey Assemblyman Conaway, Chair of the Health Committee, is about to receive legislation to label Genetically Engineered foods. We want him to know that food is a priority for New Jerseyans. He needs to hear from YOU!

CALL Assemblyman Conaway:
Post the GE Labeling Bill
(877) 559-7809

Tell him:
• I’m glad to hear that the Assemblyman is in support of GE labeling - thank you! I urge him to post this legislation for a vote.
• GE foods are a huge part of the American food supply but they have not been tested for long-term impacts on human and environmental health.
• Consumers can’t make good choices about the food they eat without labeling.

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/campaigns/make-ge-labels-the-law/

Want to talk about GE foods and how you can make a difference?
(732) 839-0878 Ask for Emily or email ereuman@fwwatch.org


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Note: This post has been updated

New Jersey Consumers Save Big On Insurance Premiums Thanks To ObamaCare

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

Affordable Care Act saved $2.1 billion for American consumers

(NEW JERSEY) - “ As a result of ObamaCare, Americans have already saved an estimated $2.1 billion on health insurance premiums. Once again, the Affordable Care Act is protecting consumers from excessive costs.

1. In every state, insurance companies must submit a justification for public review if they want to raise premiums by 10% or more. This protects consumers from excessive “ and unjustified -- rate increases. Rate reviews have helped save an estimated $1 billion for American consumers.
2. The 80/20 rule ensures that insurance companies spend at least 80% of premium dollars on patient care. Those companies failing to meet these spending requirements must write checks back to their customers for the difference. Consumers have received rebate checks for $1.1 billion thanks to the 80/20 rule.

"Thanks to Obamacare, New Jerseyans are now saving millions of dollars on healthcare premiums," said Joshua Henne, New Jersey spokesman for Know Your Care. "For the first time ever, millions of consumers across the country are actually getting money back from their insurance companies. These new rules are bringing transparency and accountability to the healthcare marketplace."

To assist in this effort, the Affordable Care Act provides states with Health Insurance Rate Review Grants to enhance their rate review programs and bring greater transparency to the process. 42 states have used their rate review grant funds to make the rate review process stronger and more open. The rate review report released yesterday is available at: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/reports/rate-review09112012a.html.

New Jersey is using their grant funding in several key ways:

• New Jersey improved its review of health insurance rate increases. Prior to receiving the grant funding, filing of comprehensive medical rates electronically in the individual, small group, and large group markets was optional and not widely observed. Today, all rate filings are now received electronically, which has helped New Jersey maintain filing information.
• Additionally, in an effort to standardize filing submissions, for rates filed on or after July 1, 2012, carriers in New Jersey will be required to submit two worksheets and a checklist to ensure all documents are properly submitted and in the correct format.
• Finally, New Jersey has partnered with the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy to engage stakeholders in a series of forums to better understand the impact of rate increases and the type of information wanted by consumers.

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The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23rd, 2010. Over the past two years, it has been a tremendous help to millions of Americans as this real reform lowers costs and guarantees more choice for consumers. As additional provisions are implemented, ObamaCare will continue to benefit millions more people.

NEW JERSEY CONSUMERS TO RECEIVE OVER $106.4 MILLION IN HEALTH INSURANCE REBATES THANKS TO AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

For Immediate Release:
April 26, 2012

(NEW JERSEY) – New Jersey consumers will receive $106,462,468 in health insurance rebates as a result of provisions of the Affordable Care Act, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report released earlier today.

“This year, New Jersey consumers will actually be getting money back from their insurance companies,” said Joshua Henne, New Jersey spokesman for Know Your Care. “This sort of rebate would have been entirely unheard of a few years ago. Thanks to President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, we can now come to expect this sort of transparency and consumer protection.  It’s nice to finally have someone on our side and looking out for the best interests of consumers.”

The Affordable Care Act requires that insurance companies spend at least 80% of premiums on patient care. This provision, the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR), guarantees that consumer premiums are going back to the consumers themselves – and not used for CEO bonuses or corporate retreats. Insurance companies who do not meet this 80% mark must pay rebates to consumers. The amount depends on the extent to which the insurer fell below that threshold.

The MLR provision is just one of many ways that the Affordable Care Act increases transparency and extends new protections to American consumers.  The rule went into effect on January 1^st, 2011. The first rebates to consumers will be issued this year. However, in the small group market, one insurer in New Jersey has already paid $18,934,071 in rebates to consumers.

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The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23^rd, 2010. Over the past two years, it has been a tremendous help to millions of Americans as this real reform lowers costs and guarantees more choice for consumers.  As additional provisions are implemented, ACA will continue to benefit millions more people. 

President Obama's Weekly Address 1/7/12: Continuing to Grow the Economy in the New Year

WASHINGTON, DC—In this week’s address, President Obama shared his New Year’s resolution with the American people: to do whatever it takes to move the economy forward and make sure that middle class families regain the security they’ve lost in the last decade. This is why the President appointed Richard Cordray this week to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect American consumers. And while we learned that the United States economy continues to add private sector jobs – with over 1.9 million created in 2011 – more needs to be done to move the economy forward. The President will also announce in this week’s address that he will host an “Insourcing American Jobs” forum at the White House on Wednesday to hear from business leaders who are bringing jobs back home and see how we can get others to follow their lead.

Decision Overturning Health Reform Would Increase Costs for Consumers

August 12, 2011

WASHINGTON - August 12 - Statement of U.S. PIRG Policy Analyst Mike Russo on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling today on Florida v. HHS, the lawsuit brought by state attorneys general and governors against the new federal health care law:

“Relying on a flawed understanding of Supreme Court precedent, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals today struck down a key element of last year’s health reform law. Unfortunately, consumers and small businesses would face significantly higher insurance premiums if the Supreme Court upholds this ruling. Americans would be left paying more than $1,000 extra a year, because those who choose to go without coverage will continue to use the emergency room as their only health care and shift those costs onto the insured.

“The health reform law protects consumers with pre-existing conditions from being discriminated against by insurance companies, and helps rein in the out-of-control cost of health care. The Eleventh Circuit’s ruling today jeopardizes those gains, putting consumers at risk of once again paying too much for coverage that might not be there when they need it.

“The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in June upheld the health reform law. This split among the Circuits makes Supreme Court review next year all but inevitable. The states who brought this suit should dedicate the time, energy and precious taxpayer dollars they are now spending on this lawsuit toward finding real solutions to the growing threat that health care costs pose to their states’ families, businesses, and budget."

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U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs), stands up to powerful special interests on behalf of the American public, working to win concrete results for our health and our well-being. With a strong network of researchers, advocates, organizers and students in state capitols across the country, we take on the special interests on issues, such as product safety,political corruption, prescription drugs and voting rights,where these interests stand in the way of reform and progress. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOOD: Christmas Made in China

Christmas is a consumer bonanza, but where do all these products that flood December come from? The answers China. From fake Christmas trees and ornaments to iPhones and XBoxes, China has become, for all intents and purposes, our North Pole. GOOD unwraps the numbers.