Consumer Group Comments to FCC on Empowering Consumers to Avoid Bill Shock
This proceeding goes to the heart of resolving an increasingly widespread consumer issue: shockingly high bills for wireless communications services. As the Commission noted in the NPRM, three studies of the problem have shown that unexpectedly high charges affect millions of consumers. Immediate consumer protections are needed to minimize further harm. Consequently, Commenters applaud the Commission for taking up this issue in an NPRM that envisions a baseline of consumer protection from such charges. We urge the Commission to adopt in large part its proposed rules, requiring wireless providers to supply automatic and free alerts when subscribers are in danger of incurring additional charges, whether due to incurring domestic or international roaming charges, exceeding allotments of voice minutes, text messages, or data, or other reasons.
