T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T will pay a combined $10.2 million in a settlement with US states that alleged the carriers falsely advertised wireless plans as "unlimited" and phones as "free." The deal was announced yesterday by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
"A multistate investigation found that the companies made false claims in advertisements in New York and across the nation, including misrepresentations about 'unlimited' data plans that were in fact limited and had reduced quality and speed after a certain limit was reached by the user," the announcement said.
T-Mobile and Verizon agreed to pay $4.1 million each while AT&T agreed to pay a little over $2 million. The settlement includes AT&T subsidiary Cricket Wireless and Verizon subsidiary TracFone.
[...]
The carriers denied any illegal conduct despite agreeing to the settlement. In addition to payments to each state, the carriers agreed to changes in their advertising practices. It's unclear whether consumers will get any refunds out of the settlement, however.
[...]
The three carriers agreed that all advertisements to consumers must be "truthful, accurate and non-misleading." They also agreed to the following changes, the NY attorney general's office said:
- "Unlimited" mobile data plans can only be marketed if there are no limits on the quantity of data allowed during a billing cycle.
- Offers to pay for consumers to switch to a different wireless carrier must clearly disclose how much a consumer will be paid, how consumers will be paid, when consumers can expect payment, and any additional requirements consumers have to meet to get paid.
- Offers of "free" wireless devices or services must clearly state everything a consumer must do to receive the "free" devices or services.
- Offers to lease wireless devices must clearly state that the consumer will be entering into a lease agreement.
- All "savings" claims must have a reasonable basis. If a wireless carrier claims that consumers will save using its services compared to another wireless carrier, the claim must be based on similar goods or services or differences must be clearly explained to the consumer.
The advertising restrictions are to be in place for five years.
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(Score: 1) by pTamok on Wednesday May 15, @08:49PM (1 child)
Corporations have legal personhood. Current interpretations of the 14th amendment to the US Constitution hold that it applies to 'legal persons', and thus constitutional protections are afforded to corporations.
And much of the U.S. constitution applies to 'persons', not just U.S. Citizens [libertarianinstitute.org].
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday May 15, @09:50PM
If corporations can't be punished like people, then corporations can't be "persons". Corporations have historically met obligations and commitments equal, or nearly equal, to those of real people - sometimes. In WW2, a lot of corporations did as government dictated, to keep the war machine operating. Of course, no corporation was shot and buried at Normandy, but, they did make sacrifices along with real people during the war.
A real person can be subject to all manner of severe punishments, depending on his offense. We all face fines, just let a cop see you driving 20 to 50 mph over the speed limit. You'll pay a fine, minimum, and likely have your license suspended. Oh - well - when was the last time a business had it's license suspended? A doctor might have HIS license suspended, but the company that he owns won't be suspended. How about jail time? Where's the equivalent of that in the business world? And, capital punishment. Theoretically, I can be executed by the state, if I really piss the state off. Businesses? Nope.
I outright reject the idea that a corporation is a person. If and when corporations are as punishable as real people, I might reconsider. If a corporation commits a truly heinous crime, the corporate officers can all be executed in front of the same firing squad. I'm thinking of the Sacklers, who pushed Oxycontin for so many years, no matter how many people suffered and died.
Yes, I realize you are correct. In today's world, corporations are legal persons. Perhaps one day, government will pull it's collective head out of it's collective ass. I won't hold my breath, but, maybe.
“I have become friends with many school shooters” - Tampon Tim Walz