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."
