Search

Reports on the efforts of families, in the United States, to fully utilize telecommunication services. Profiles of the Harrison's who have monthly bills for various telecommunication services totalling around $1,000; Number of telephones (regular and cellular) and pagers they have; Services they use which cut costs; Reasons why New York state has the most competitive local telecommunications market in the US; Effect the acquisition of MediaOne by AT&T Corp. will have on the industry.

Looks at how the plentiful job market and the low interest rates are spurring the markets for the home buyer. A listing of the cost of homes in 100 cities across the United States; The opportunities for minorities; The competition; The tax breaks; The outlook from region to region. INSETS: Disaster strikes.;Home-price prospects for 100 cities..

Offers suggestions to income-oriented investors who have watched Treasury bond prices dive in the first four to five months of 1996. Benefits of holding onto bonds; Turn to two- to five-year Treasury notes; What types of municipal bonds to consider; Possibility of new inflation-indexed Treasury bonds by end of 1996; Explaining why bond prices fell.

Reports on the overcharging of Comcast Corp. on several regulated rate categories in 2004 according to the reports of accountants from Aspaugh & Sculco and Front Range Consulting Inc. in January 2005. Findings of auditors on the Form 1250 rate filing of the company to the U.S. Federal Communications in 2004; Reaction of company spokesman Tim Fitzpatrick on the claims of the auditors; Remarks from auditor Garth Ashpaugh on the rates of Comcast.

Lists changes that are causing increased life insurance premiums in the U.S. Cholesterol level demanded by insurance companies; Insurance rate given to clients with relatives who developed certain diseases; Height and weight required by insurance companies to clients.

Reports on the rate relief on local rights fees asked from National Basketball Association by Fox Sports network as a result of cable centric pacts in the U.S. Influence of the stand taken by Fox on the network's renegotiation with other teams; Inability of the network to provide exclusive coverage of certain games; Rate mandate of Fox.

Reports on the confusion surrounding cable rate increases in the United States. National media's prominent reporting of the rise in cable rates for the 12-month period ending July 1, 2000; Problem in the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) methodology for calculating year-to-year cable rate increases.

Reports on the negative publicity generated by United States cable operator AT&T Broadband's 2001 rate hike announcements. Nationwide average of price increase; Criticisms from consumer groups.

Reports on United States cable operators' opposition against the plan of the Fox Family Channel to increase its license fee. Cable operators' concern over the channel's declining ratings and its programming direction; Reasons cited by Fox Family officials on why the network deserves a price hike; Increase in the network's spending on both marketing and programming.

Reports that rate hikes in the United States cable television industry will remain modest if not nonexistent. Average percentage increase in rates; Increase in the cost of providing service; Issue of balancing the needed rate increase due to increased costs, with the need to keep rates low to retain customers.

Focuses on the decrease of prices for broadcast network advertising in the United States as of September 1998. Findings of a Broadcasting & Cable survey on unit-rate prices of new and returning programs; Some of the biggest decliners in terms of per-unit asking price; How to identify the median prices for all the networks; Why the average price of a prime time spot is hard to calculate.

Announces that a study by the College Board found that students who had taken coaching classes boosted their Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores by an average of just 26 points, far less than the 100 or more points the test-preparation sellers advertise. Details about the study; Criticism of Andrew Rosen, chief operating officer of Kaplan Educational Centers; Loan rates in the United States.

Highlights United States banks that offer senior privileges. Westamerica Bank; Beneficial Savings Bank; Guaranty Federal Bank; Compass Bank; Loan rates in the US; Lender; Rate; Contact information.

Reports on check-clearing procedures and fees levied on personal accounts by United States banks. Class-action lawsuit against Wells Fargo Bank alleging systematic creation of the largest possible number of overdrafts in customers' accounts; Advice on avoiding bounced checks and high fees; Charts showing the best deals in low-interest and no-fee credit cards.

Offers advice to home buyers and refinancers on getting a 30-year mortgage at seven percent without paying high closing costs. Intermediate-term, adjustable-rate mortgages; Higher monthly payments; Highlights of a survey by Bank Rate Monitor, a North Palm Beach, Florida, provider of financial-product information.

Looks at the efforts of credit card companies to scrutinize the way in which people use their credit cards. Consultants who are advising card issuers to divest themselves of thrifty users who pay less than $100 a year in finance charges, or people who charge less than $10,000 a year; Other credit card users who are targets; The balance liquidation fees which may be charged to users who pay off their balances within three months of the expiration of a `teaser' rate.

Publishes yields and rates on investments and loans in the United States as of May 1996. Top yielding certificates of deposit; Top yielding money-market mutual funds; Yield benchmarks; Low loan rates around the United States with name of lender and contact points; National averages of rates from May 1995 to May 1996 on 30-year mortgages, one-year ARMs, and auto loans; Low-interest credit cards and no-fee gold cards, with contact points.

Reports that United States banks are aggressively courting customers to invest in money-market deposit accounts (MMDAs). Customers preferring higher yield money-market mutual funds; Banks increasing yields of MMDAs; Drawbacks of higher required minimum balances and fees; Examples of rates and fees at Signet Bank, First Deposit National Bank, and Key Bank USA.

Declares that mortgage loan officers may be sizing you up as an opportunity to earn a little extra money at your expense. The commissions earned by loan officers; Overages, a bonus commission, which pads the interest rate; Advice for the borrower.

Asserts that savings-bonds are not as good a deal in the summer of 1995 as they were a year previously. Comments on yields; Comparison with CD rates; Top-yielding certificates of deposit; Top-yielding money-market mutual funds.

Evaluates the investment risks on high-yield bonds in the United States. Rate comparison with Treasury bonds; Factors which contribute to investment risk factors of bonds; Forecast of financial analyst Margaret Eagle and Bart Geer on bond returns; Trade-off between risk and reward in investments.

Claims a long run of good economic news in the past several years has put the wind to the back of junk-bond prices and predicts that the smooth sailing should continue through 1994. The technical picture; Yields; The biggest risk.

Suggests that now may be the time to begin investing again in longer-term bonds and funds. Recommendations from Peter Hegel (Van Kampen Merritt); The futility in attempting to time the exact peak in rates; Caution regarding selling bonds now; Other recommendations; Treasury yields.

Looks at Treasury yields, and notes that Randy Merk (Benham Capital Management) and Robert Peck (American Capital Research & Management) predict that by summer bond values will be rising again. Why Treasury bonds rose from 5.22% in early February to 5.88% in March; Which Treasuries to buy.

Predicts that yields on benchmark 30-year Treasury bonds will fall to 5.5%, and possibly to 5%, within a year. The case for still-lower long-term rates; Drop in interest rates across the entire spectrum of maturities; Effects of demographic trends regarding saving; Comments from Jim Kochan, Robert W. Baird & Co., on the risks of owning volatile, long-term bonds; Recommendations.

The article reports on a policy adopted by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission which bars cable operators from enforcing exclusive contracts with apartment building owners. Under the policy, cable operators are not allowed to sign new contracts with apartment building owners. Issues related to rising cable rates and consumer protection are examined.

The article reports on Comcast's request for the deregulation of cable television rates in the U.S. in 2007. The cable television firm, which submitted petitions for effective competition to the Federal Communications Commission, asked the government agency to eliminate rate regulations in close to 150 communities.

The article comments on the market popularity of high definition home theater in the U.S. Some market analyst speculate that it will be cheaper to watch first-rate movies at home. Consumers will have better cable-enabled theater experience and an unobstructed view and complete control. It is the idea of control that will drive viewers to buy better sets and make their own digital theaters.

The article provides information on United's Mileage Plus Visa card. Cardholders can earn points called Choices at a rate of one for every dollar spent. They can still redeem points for a traditional award ticket to go anywhere in the U.S. Choices can be use to book hotel stays and car rentals at the company's web site.

Considers the impact of a bill proposed by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton regarding the digital television transition on the basic cable rates in the U.S. Provisions of the bill; Factor that undermines the effort of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to limit digital cost increases to digital subscribers.

Reports on the on the developments related to a bill to extend a moratorium on Internet access taxes in the U.S. Contents of the bill; Reason for delay to pass the bill in the U.S. Senate; Impact of the bill on Internet service providers.

Reports on the creation of a team of economists formed by Federal Communications Commission Media Bureau chief Kenneth Ferree to examine the factors that contribute to rising cable rates in the U.S. Reason given by the team for rise of rates; Role of broadcasters in rise of cable rates.

Reports on the cable television rates from the Federal Communication Commission in the U.S. Percentage increase of rates on the cable television industry; Statistics of average monthly rate for basic and expanded-base tiers per-channel basis; Effect of inflation on the rate.

Forecasts the increase of cable rates for Mediacom Communications Corp. in the United States. Plans of Mediacom to transfer the network to analog; Advantages of transferring the network from digital to analog; Percentage increase for customers with older AT&T packages.

Reports the increase of advertising unit rates in news networks after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. Percentage rate increase at Fox News Channel, Cable News Network and MSNBC; Reasons for the increase of prices; Ratings battle between the three companies.

Reports the reaction of Mayor Bill Davis on the escalating cable rates in Los Angeles, California. Effort of generating incentives from direct-broadcast satellite providers; Criticisms for Adelphia Communications Corp.; Response of Adelphia executives.

Reports on a petition by electric power companies for the United States Supreme Court to reject review of a lower court ruling that could mean higher pole rates for cable television operators. 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling for cable operators that commingle Internet access and video programming; Coverage of the pole-attachment rates set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Reports on the rate increases made by cable television companies in the United States as of November 2000. Rates increased by Cablevision Systems Corp. for cable customers in the New York metropolitan system; Reasons for the increase; Rate adjustment plans of Time Warner Cable; Rates raised by direct broadcast satellite providers.

Cites the slowdown in cable-rate increases in the United States, according to a survey released by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. Cable operators' attribution of cable-rate increases to inflation, equipment costs and system upgrades.

Reports that Dallas, Texas, city officials have rejected AT&T Broadband's bid for a 31-cent hike in basic cable rates. Increase in expanded-basic fees; AT&T Broadband's request to the Federal Communications Commission for an emergency stay of the city's rate order; AT&T Broadband's negotiation for a franchise renewal for its subscriber system in the city.

Reports that the New Jersey Assembly Telecommunications Committee has called upon state regulators to explain why cable television rates continue to rise in excess of inflation. Biggest complaints against cable operators; New Jersey Cable Television Association's defense; Cost comparison between cable and other forms of entertainment.

Reports on how the United States Federal Reserve decision to raise federal funds, in 1999, will effect consumers. Increases seen in prime loan rates, adjustable-rate mortgages, and automobile loans; Possible decreases in fixed-rate mortgages; Higher yields for money-market funds.

Reports on a warning from term life insurance companies in the United States who are urging consumers to buy policies and lock in low rates before state governments enact rules that will drive up costs. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) push for a model regulation called XXX; The support that XXX is getting from state insurance departments; What the likely increase in premiums would be if XXX were enacted.

Summarizes loan rates in different parts of the United States as of May 1999. Rate and description at lenders in New York, New York, Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Illinois, Phoenix, Arizona, and Los Angeles, California; National averages on 30-year mortgages and other loans.

Discusses the rise in mortgage rates that has taken place in the United States in March 1999. The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage; The money that could be saved by taking a 15-year loan instead of a 30-year loan; What type of loan to consider if the house will be sold in a few years.

Presents information the lowest loan rates from cities across the United States as of December 11, 1998. Boston, Massachusetts; Charlotte, North Carolina; Saint Louis, Missouri; Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Lenders; Rates; Contact information; National averages for 30-year mortgages, one-year adjustable rate mortgages (ARM) and auto loans.

Presents information for the lowest loan rates available in the United States as of October 14, 1998 on a variety of loans. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Tampa, Florida; Omaha, Nebraska; Las Vegas, Nevada; San Diego, California; National averages.

Announces the move of local multiple-systems operator to launch their annual rate hikes which will result to higher monthly bills for cable viewers in Saint Louis, Missouri and throughout Massachusetts. Rate hikes of Charter Communications and AT&T Broadband & Internet Services in Saint Louis; Planned rate increased of MediaOne Group and Cablevision Systems Corp. in Massachusetts.

Reports on AT&T Broadband & Internet Services' negotiation of a settlement with regulators in Arlington, Texas, over cable television rate hikes dating back to 1996. Disagreement over the size of the refund the city is seeking for AT&T subscribers in the Dallas suburb; Reduction demanded by the city in its 1999 rate order; Amount that the company decided to pay out to its subscribers in Plano in a similar dispute.