ON THE MAINLAND
Pac Bell to pay big fine for erroneous billings
SAN FRANCISCO >> Under a tentative settlement with state regulators, SBC Pacific Bell has agreed to pay what would be a record $27 million fine for billing tens of thousands of customers for high-speed Internet service they never requested.Pacific Bell initially downplayed the problems, but earlier this week recognized them and promised to improve its DSL billing practices and promptly credit any customers who are billed improperly.
Since 1999, about 800 customers have complained to the state Public Utilities Commission that Pac Bell billed them -- sometimes twice -- for DSL services they didn't order, didn't receive or wanted to drop. Under the settlement, the company acknowledged incorrectly billing between 30,000 and 70,000 customers. DSL, which stands for digital subscriber line, is a high-speed Internet service that works over ordinary telephone lines but is many times faster than standard dial-up connections.
One customer said that a month after inquiring about DSL service, she received a bill charging her $99.95 for activation and a monthly service fee.
OVERSEAS
Mexico puts 2 largest airlines up for sale
MEXICO CITY >> Six years after the government seized Mexico's two largest airlines during an economic crisis, both are back on the auction block despite the slump in the airline industry caused by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.Officials say Mexican investors and several U.S. airlines -- including American, Continental and Delta -- have expressed interest in buying shares of Mexicana and Aeromexico, which together handle about 80 percent of domestic air traffic.
Mexico's antitrust watchdog agency, the Federal Competition Commission, has ruled that the two must be sold separately to preserve competition.
Some analysts question whether Mexico's market can support two large, independent carriers. Unions and lawmakers say they fear cutthroat competition could drive one out of business.
Both airlines have been operated by a government-controlled holding company since 1995. With little competition, the two airlines usually offer the same rates for the same routes, and it often costs more to fly within Mexico than to fly to the United States.
Harry Potter a dwarf in Chinese knock-off
BEIJING >> Roll away, "Sorcerer's Stone"! Step aside, "Prisoner of Azkaban"! Harry Potter and Leopard-Walk-Up-To-Dragon are here!Chinese fans of the British boy wizard with the lightning-bolt scar on his forehead are snapping up the fifth book in the wildly popular series.
There's just one problem. It's fake -- written by a Chinese author for a Chinese audience.
The 198-page book -- titled "Harry Potter and Leopard-Walk-Up-To-Dragon" after its mysterious villain -- has the name and bio of British author J.K. Rowling on its cover. But the tale in which Harry turns into a hairy dwarf after a "sour-sweet rain" is the unauthorized work of an anonymous author.
"We have not found who wrote the book or where they come from," said Zhang Deguang of the People's Literature Publishing House, which has the series' publishing rights in China. "It's made a negative impact on our book sales."
Rowling is at work on the real fifth installment, which is not expected to be finished this year.
Rowling's agent, the Christopher Little Literary Agency in London, said it was aware of the fake Chinese Harry. A spokeswoman who asked not to be identified refused to comment by telephone, but sent The Associated Press an e-mail saying, "We are taking this issue extremely seriously."
China's government has promised repeatedly to crack down on counterfeiters and intellectual property theft.
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[Hawaii Inc.]
NEW JOBS
>> Dan McLellan has rejoined Buck Consultants Inc.'s Honolulu office as a consulting actuary. He has more than 23 years of experience, most recently in San Diego.>> Hawaiian Eye Center has hired Lori Ann Bocobo, Patricia McBeth, Marissa Ilac and Arlene Munford-Sierra in its Wahiawa office. Bocobo and McBeth are ophthalmic medical assistants in the Ambulatory Surgery Center. Ilac is a patient account representative. Munford-Sierra is a patient services representative.
ON THE BOARD
>> Reuben Wong has been elected president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. Wong has been an attorney in Honolulu for the past 38 years. Other new officers include Terrill S. W. Chock, president-elect, and Winfred K. T. Pong, first vice-president. Chock is chief financial officer of Hawaii Pacific Finance Ltd. and GMP Hawaii Inc. Pong is contracts and program manager for the Hawaii Tourism Authority.Rounding out the board are Ming Chen, second vice president, Michele K.S. Choy, English secretary, Henry H.H. Yu, Chinese secretary, Alvin C.P. Wong, treasurer, Libby Y. Lew, assistant treasurer, and Elvira Lo, auditor. Ban F. Chan will serve as immediate past president. The chamber also elected 16 directors. They are Gordon Au, Stanford Yuen, Clyde Chun, Yen Chun, Dennis Hwang, Vernon Jim, Leonard Kam, Gayle Lau, Kwock Nam Lau, Russell Leu, Elvira Lo, Sylvia Louie, Alex Marn, Alvin Wong, Franklin Young and Henry Yu.