For Immediate Release July 29, 2011 American Consumer Institute Responds to America’s Broadband Connectivity Plan Proposal would expand broadband access, limit consumer burden WASHINGTON – A group of leading broadband providers today submitted a proposal to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would speed broadband deployment to more than 4 million Americans living in rural [...]

WiFi is quickly becoming a standard feature on cell phones today, but with that technology comes the potential for privacy issues.  Imagine if, with just one simple unprotected number, you could track a person’s near every move, know the places they frequent, and see where they live? Google has made it possible. With a predicted [...]

Accourding to a Bloomberg story, eleven Attorneys General say that AT&T’s purchase of T-Mobile USA should be accepted by regulators. citing economic benefits and much needed wireless spectrum.   http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-27/at-t-t-mobile-bid-deserves-approval-state-lawyers-say-correct-.html

“Facts by fiat power” isn’t a new concept, but I’d like to think its popularity has waned in the digital age.  But maybe not. Some Argentine economists have concluded that the country’s inflation rate is not 10% as reported in government statistics, but over 20%.  But it is an election year, so Argentinian leadership has [...]

Antitrust laws exist to protect consumers from predatory monopolies.  The government’s watchful eye against anti-competitive behavior expresses only good intentions toward the protection of both markets and consumers. Of course, there is a downside.  Regulators happen to be human, and sometimes they mess things up.  That’s the premise of an intriguing study from Dr. Jeffrey [...]

Leadership-quality speeches can be good.   Aspirational statements sketch ideas and tone, and are a step in building support for a goal.   But they are seldom actionable plans, for example; “The budget outline… includes rewriting the tax code, reforming entitlements, stabilizing the national debt, freezing domestic spending and rewriting federal budget rules—all in a handy seven [...]

Current deficit reduction talks are reported to have “everything on the table” – all income sources and all outlays.  The least agreement swirls around income tax revenues, both in the scope of taxation and the tax rates.   Personal exemptions from federal tax application include items such as charitable donations, mortgage interest, and state and local [...]

The FCC announcement is available here.

University of Maryland Economics Professor Peter Cramton has just released an outstanding video on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) plan to institute a failed medical bidding program.  Dr. Cramton explains how the program, originally intended to reduce spending, will actually lead to higher costs for patients and worse medical outcomes.  Nearly one year ago, he sent a letter to the [...]

Greece has been in debt-default for 50% of the last 179 years.   Although its debt and low productivity grab headlines, its GDP of $305 billion is a small part of the European Union (EU) countries using the Euro.    Greece is headed for bankruptcy on its $500 billion in debt despite bailouts from the EU and [...]