Last year, a federal program paid out $1.6 billion to cover free cell phones and the monthly bills of 12.5 million wireless accounts. The program, overseen by the FCC and intended to help low-income Americans, is popular for obvious reasons. But observers complain that the program suffers from poor oversight.
Today, the FCC is announcing new guidelines that should make sneaky mobile phone fees a thing of the past.
“Most people don’t know what a megabyte is. But they do understand when they get an alert telling them they’re about to go over their limit and incur additional fees.”
And why should you care either way?
Perhaps the FCC actually is stepping up efforts to protect consumers from sketchy practices in the wireless industry. After Verizon failed to adequately justify reasons for its highest-ever $350 early termination fee, the FCC commissioner seems ready for a scrap: “It is hard for me to believe that the public interest is being well served,” [...]
After surveying customers and speaking with consumer protection and industry groups, something called the U.S. General Accountability Office has come to a total no-sh** conclusion: Customers are confused and frustrated with their wireless bills and contracts, and they need help dealing with their wireless providers.
If the jig isn’t up, it seems like it should be soon. There’s simply too much inexpensive technology out there to justify the sorts of bills and restrictions the average wireless customer puts up with in the U.S.
