Behind The Scenes Fall

In a first-of-its-kind effort, we are asking people across the country to test the speed of their internet connection and share their monthly internet bill on our secure page at CR.org/upload/broadband. We want to find out what consumers are really getting for their money, and advocate for a better internet that costs less.

In a recent CR survey, 76 percent of Americans said internet service is as important as electricity and water in today's world, and 86 percent said they rely on the internet at least five days a week. The pandemic has revealed the serious challenges that millions of Americans face every day when it comes to getting broadband. Many consumers can be charged more based on where they live. People can get stuck with slow speeds and poor quality of service because of a lack of competition in their community.

Many people simply cannot get online because there is no service where they live, or they cannot afford it. We will analyze the data we receive to see where the problems are and to learn which factors determine what we pay for internet service across the U.S. The findings will help CR press internet service providers and policymakers to do more to ensure that all of us have access to affordable, reliable internet service.

CR is grateful to the diverse coalition of more than 60 partner organizations that are helping us reach more consumers across the country. Join us at CR.org/upload/broadband to help us fight for fair internet access.

Destructive storms and heat waves are becoming more frequent. That means planning for a power outage is a smart idea. Here are tips from CR experts on how to get ready:

1. Write Important Information on Paper.
Most of us depend on our phones for contact information. During a prolonged power outage, your batteries may die; therefore, write down important contact numbers, including the address of the nearest storm shelter or library, or other public places that might have electrical power and supplies. If you make your way to a shelter, take a power strip to recharge multiple family phones if needed.

2. If You Have a Generator, Use It Safely.
Operate a generator as far from the house as possible—CR recommends at least 20 feet—and direct the exhaust away from doors or windows. A generator used improperly can kill in as little as 5 minutes if the concentration of carbon monoxide is high enough. An average of 60 to 70 people die each year from generator-associated carbon monoxide poisoning.

3. No Generator? Unplug Appliances.
Unplugging your electrical equipment and appliances such as the microwave, refrigerator, computers, and television can prevent damage to those appliances from a power surge when the utility company restores power. 

Go to CR.org/power-outage and CR.org/emergency-prep for more tips.

Did you know that as a CR member you can lower your monthly bills? Our Bill Negotiator is provided by BillFixers, which helps do the work for you. Another new member benefit is CR Car Savings. Go to CR.org/mycr/benefits and click on the CR Savings link!

Do you have a family member buying their first home? One of the biggest challenges first-time homeowners face is how to keep up with ongoing maintenance. CR has just released the app Upkept to help first-timers manage their home like pros. Based on the home and what's in it, Upkept will create plans for keeping everything in good shape, from cleaning the gaskets in the refrigerator to clearing the gutters. It will automatically schedule (and gently remind about) tasks throughout the year, and even walk through each task with step-by-step how-to guides. The app costs $4.99 per month, or about the price of a coffee, with a risk-free 90-day trial. That's well worth it to avoid major expenses due to neglect. Go to upkepthome.com for more information.

Quinta Warren, PhD, started at CR this summer. With more than a decade of working in sustainability and energy, Quinta's experience includes providing technical expertise to small businesses in Africa, working with the Department of Energy on domestic and international policies around carbon management and power generation, and providing energy expertise for the Millennium Challenge Corporation on electricity projects in emerging economies. She also carried out lab research on new CO2 capture solvents and methods for industry. Quinta earned her doctorate in chemical and biomolecular engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a bachelor's in chemical engineering from Penn State University. Associate Director of Sustainability Policy is a new position at CR. 

Can you explain to our members what you will be doing?
Sustainability is all about ensuring that our planet will be in good shape for future generations. This means using resources such as energy and water wisely, and minimizing damage to the environment. My team and I will be focusing on encouraging policies that lower vehicle emissions and improve energy efficiency in home appliances. Additionally, we will be ensuring that these policies are equitable and take into consideration the needs of marginalized communities. Finally, we will be providing people with information on things they can do to save energy and water in the home, help the environment, and save money at the same time.

That sounds challenging. Tell us about your education and experience that helps ground you for this position at CR?
I am a scientist and engineer by training, which I know is right in line with how CR tackles problems. My experience in developing communities around the world helps me understand how important it is for good policies to be backed up by good science, and to be implemented in a way that is fair and equitable.

What excites you about working at CR?
I love the fact that CR has such a strong base of members who care about consumer issues like safety and sustainability. It is so impactful to show up to a congressional hearing with thousands of CR members having signed a petition on a particular issue. I also am excited to work here because I am passionate about helping people, and that is at the foundation of everything CR does.

Many of our members participate in our advocacy efforts. Will you be working with our mobilization team, and, if so, what is coming up where you may need their help?
Yes, we will continue to work very closely with our mobilization team to involve CR members in pushing for better regulations. We recently mobilized members to comment on the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed ruling on clean cars, and we are doing the same for a similar proposal from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this fall. Members can participate in these efforts by testifying, signing petitions, or sharing their experiences around sustainability-related issues. If members want to get involved, they can go to action.consumerreports.org.

No doubt you will be busy at your job, but, outside of work, what do you like to do?
My favorite hobby is traveling because I enjoy meeting new people and learning about other cultures. So far I have visited about 60 countries on all seven continents. With the pandemic preventing travel, I am catching up on my reading, horror movies, and improving my rudimentary tennis skills.

Making a will is something we know we should do, but it can be complex and expensive to begin. That's why we have partnered with our friends at FreeWill. They have developed an intuitive, online will-writing tool that is free and takes no more than 20 minutes from start to finish.

This powerful resource will guide you through creating a fully valid legal will in your jurisdiction or take you through planning your will before seeing an attorney. This tool is free to you whether you decide to include a gift to Consumer Reports or not. Go to freewill.com/consumerreports to start your free will. If you have questions, please contact Talib Nichiren, Associate Director of Planned Giving, at talib.nichiren@consumer.org or 914-378-2220.