Comcast fined $9M for protection act violationsOLYMPIA, Wash. — A judge has imposed more than $9 million in penalties against cable and Internet provider Comcast after finding more than 445,000 violations of Washington state’s Consumer Protection Act.The Seattle Times reports the judge ruled Thursday that Comcast violated the law when it charged nearly 31,000 people for service protection plans without their consent.State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed the initial lawsuit in 2016, claiming Comcast committed nearly 2 million violations and profited from misleading plans.The judge ruled that the attorney general’s office did not back claims that Comcast billed thousands for repairs of company-owned equipment or allowed service charges by using certain billing codes.Company spokesman Andy Colley says the ruling recognized that Comcast has addressed the issues by improving customer service and the consent process.

343K Ram pickup trucks recalled for air bag issuesDETROIT — Fiat Chrysler is recalling nearly 343,000 Ram pickup trucks worldwide because the air bags may not inflate in a crash.The recall covers the Ram 1500 mainly from the 2019 model year, although the company has a small number of 2020 models.Fiat Chrysler says a software error can inadvertently disable the air bags and a device that tightens seat belts before a crash. FCA doesn’t know of any crashes or injuries and says the problem is rare.Nearly one-third of the 2019 U.S. models are still at dealers. Most of the recalled trucks are in North America.Owners will be notified starting July 20. Dealers will either replace computers that control the air bags or update software.

2 top executives to leave Uber after initial public offeringNEW YORK — Uber is parting ways with two of its top executives less than a month after the company’s rocky initial public offering.CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told employees in an email Friday he plans to be more involved in day-to-day operations now that the IPO has passed. Khosrowshahi says the heads of the global rides and Eats teams will report directly to him, and Chief Operating Officer Barney Harford will leave the company.He also says it’s crucial for Uber to have a consistent, unified narrative and he plans to combine the marketing, communications and policy teams. Chief Marketing Officer Rebecca Messina will also leave the company.Uber’s stock has tumbled since its IPO. The company posted strong revenue growth in its first quarter as a public company, but also $1 billion in losses.

Manufacturers urge Trump to work on mileage standardsSACRAMENTO, Calif. — Major automobile manufacturers urged the Trump administration and California on Thursday to restart negotiations over vehicle mileage standards to prevent a lengthy legal battle, warning that moving ahead with two sets of standards would create instability in the auto market.“What works best for consumers, communities and the millions of U.S. employees that work in the auto industry is one national standard that is practical, achievable and consistent across the 50 states,” the 17 companies including Honda, Ford and Mercedes-Benz wrote in a letter addressed to Trump.At issue is a Trump administration roll back of tougher Obama-era mileage standards that would require cars to get 36 miles of real-world driving per gallon of gas by 2025.By Associated Press