Comments on: FCC Chairman hints at federal regulation of cellphone industry

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:20:55 +0000

I agree. Cancellation charges are crap. Wish I had a business where I could charge you for not wanting to do business with me anymore.

They’re riding the curve.

One of these days, with competition, they’ll be wearing out their collective kneecaps begging for customers.

As much as I hate it, there are 2 industries that require federal regulation: Communications and the Airlines. They’re both running wild right now.

The sooner regulated, the better.

By: Linda

Linda — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:01:13 +0000

On top of making early termination fees proportional to time left in contract and based on phone costs, the MAIN CHANGE consumers need is to have phones UNBUNDLED, and PORTABLE between Telecommunications Service Providers. Imagine having to switch computers because you change ISP’s. Cell-phones are becoming small computers — why should we have to change our phones to change TSP’s, or change TSP’s if we want a specific model of phone?

UNBUNDLING doesn’t prevent TSP’s from continuing to offer subsidized calling contracts. They would still have the freedom to offer the plans they wished — but they should be required to accept device & activate user-owned devices and change only for service — not the phone.

The phone charge is *crap* — I sign up for a 2-year contract that supposedly has an early termination fee so the phone company can cover their phone costs. “Fine”. Then why doesn’t my phone rate go down by the “phone repayment amount” after the contract? If I keep my phone, and don’t contribute to “global waste”, why am I penalized by paying the higher rate associated with a “new device”?

By: Shea

Shea — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:25:23 +0000

Great~! I think this is just what the industry needs to be moving towards. For many years now mobile carriers have been able to charge what they want and when they want, unfettered.

Rockefeller got set straight, Microsoft got theirs, now it’s the cellular industry’s turn to get dealt with by the US government proper.

Now if only we could do something about these gas prices….