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CNET News Daily Podcast: Banning train operators from texting

California outlaws texting by train operators, and Congress wants to limit the amount of taxes that can be applied to cell phone bills.

Erica Ogg Former Staff writer, CNET News
Erica Ogg is a CNET News reporter who covers Apple, HP, Dell, and other PC makers, as well as the consumer electronics industry. She's also one of the hosts of CNET News' Daily Podcast. In her non-work life, she's a history geek, a loyal Dodgers fan, and a mac-and-cheese connoisseur.
Erica Ogg

A deadly train crash in California prompts the state's railroad regulators to ban cell phone use by engine operators. Meanwhile, Congress is trying to limit the taxes that can be applied to consumers' cell phone bills. Already state taxes on cell phone plans average 15.19 percent, according to one study, which is twice as much as the average sales tax.

Plus, Cisco buys Jabber, eBay may have put StumbleUpon on the auction block, and a new Apple iPhone-related patent turns up. All this and more on Friday's podcast.


Listen now: Download today's podcast


Today's stories:

New taxes on your monthly cell phone bill?

California bans texting by train operators

Cisco buys into corporate IM

eBay looking to unload StumbleUpon?

Holiday sales: How low with HDTV prices go?

Apple patent could improve iPhone alerts

Photos: Academy of Sciences rebirth