How You Can Help

Tell MASSPIRG your cell phone story.

E-mail your state representative asking him or her to pass the Cell Phone Users' Bill of Rights.

Overview

The use of wireless communications has skyrocketed over the past few years, jumping from approximately 24 million subscribers in 1994 to an estimated 170 million today (this is the equivalent of 1 out of 2 Americans). Along with the growth in the industry has come an increase in consumer complaints. In fact, complaints to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the agency charged with overseeing competition in the wireless industry, increased almost 40 percent between 2002 and 2003, significantly outpacing the 13 percent growth in cell phone subscribership during that time period.

Anti-consumer practices by the cell phone industry include:

- the widespread use of vague and misleading marketing tactics and material,
- poor billing practices,
- a lack of customer service and
- the aggressive use of extended contract periods and high termination fees designed to tie consumers down and make it difficult to drop or change providers.

Because the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has refused to enact even the most basic consumer protections, MASSPIRG is leading the campaign to pass the Cell Phone Users' Bill of Rights to ensure that the cell phone industry is "governed by basic consumer standards."

Resources

Testimony in favor of the Cell Phone Users’ Bill of Rights (HB 3389 and SB 1982) and An Act Relative to Wireless Service (SB 1945)

Fact Sheet: Cell Phone Bill Of Rights

Industry's Code Of Conduct Fails To Protect Consumers 

Why The Assurance Of Voluntary Compliance Is Not Enough