Month: June 2020

Data cap cash. (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images)

Charter Communications has asked federal regulators for permission to impose data caps on broadband users and to seek interconnection payments from large online video providers, starting next year.

Charter, unlike other ISPs, isn't allowed to impose data caps and faces limits on charges for interconnection payments because of conditions applied to its 2016 purchase of Time Warner Cable. The conditions were imposed by the Federal Communications Commission for seven years and are scheduled to elapse in May 2023. Last week, Charter submitted a petition asking the FCC to let the conditions run out on May 18, 2021 instead. The FCC is seeking public comment on the petition.

Charter has frequently pointed to its lack of data caps as an example of a customer-friendly policy. When it sought FCC permission for the merger, it told the FCC that it provides service "without any data caps, usage-based pricing, or modem fees" and that it "has been involved in no notable disputes over traffic management and has long practiced network neutrality."

A group of Twitch streamers and viewers is calling for a one-day boycott of the popular streaming site to take place Wednesday, following what they see as a slow and tepid response to widespread allegations in recent days of abuse by prominent streamers.

Over the weekend, popular Twitch streamers including SayNoToRage, Tom "ProSyndicate" Cassell, and Henry "HenryG" Greer have been publicly accused of sexual abuse and harassment by multiple women. All three are part of the Twitch Partners program, giving them access to special platform features for monetization and customization of their online video presence. SayNoToRage offered a public apology for his actions, saying there is "no excuse for his behavior," while Cassell offered a strong denial of the accusations against him.

Twitch promises action

In the wake of these allegations, Twitch put out a brief statement Sunday saying the company "take[s] accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct extremely seriously. We are actively looking into the accounts concerning streamers affiliated with Twitch and will work with law enforcement where applicable."

Enlarge / Hand sanitizer being applied to a person's hand. (credit: Getty | Leopoldo Smith)

The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday advised consumers to avoid nine types of hand sanitizers that may contain methanol, a toxic alcohol that can cause blindness if swallowed and systemic effects if absorbed through the skin.

All nine hand sanitizers are made by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico. The agency said in its advisory that it discovered methanol while testing of two of the company’s products. One, called Lavar Gel, contained 81 percent methanol—and no ethanol, a safe alcohol meant to be used in hand sanitizers. Another, CleanCare No Germ, contained 28 percent methanol.

“Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers,” the FDA wrote. With use of hand sanitizers at a high amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency advised that anyone who has used the methanol-containing products should “seek immediate treatment, which is critical for potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning.”