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Seeking to bring high-speed Internet service to all Americans, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is running an online forum this week at www.openleft.com where people can post comments and ideas about making broadband access a reality for all. He will use the feedback in drafting legislation to promote high-speed Internet development.

CWA-supported legislation to raise the government's definition of high-speed Internet and develop a detailed "map" of broadband availability, speed, and cost across the United States won unanimous approval from the Senate Commerce Committee this week. The Broadband Data Improvement Act (S. 1492) now moves to the full Senate for action, where it is not expected to encounter much difficulty given the measure's bipartisan support.

IUE-CWA notified Delphi Corp. of its intent to terminate its local and national contracts in a letter delivered to the company on July 18. The notice paves the way for a possible strike in October if the union and company cannot reach a new agreement covering more than 2,000 workers.

In hearings this week in Virginia that Verizon hopes will end the state's telecom oversight, CWA is arguing that the company wants the freedom to pursue its fiber-optic FiOS network at the expense of the copper network that provides telephone and Internet service for most of Virginia's rural and inner-city areas.

CWA members and hundreds of other union and commmunity activists joined with U.S. House and Senate leaders on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to celebrate the first raise in the minimum wage in more than 10 years – a victory that lawmakers and social justice leaders said wouldn't have been possible without labor's determination and hard work.