Subject: (Kelley) Wireless carriers and "truth in billing" (fwd)
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 132312 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Roy L. Beavers" <rbeavers@llion.org>
To: emfguru <rbeavers@llion.org>
--------------------------------------------------
........As you say, Libbey, this "truth in billing" issue is not directly
an EMF matter -- but it is, too, in a way......
The info you provide below is good solid evidence of the PREFERENTIAL
treatment which the "wireless" industries have been getting 'across the
board' (against their land-line competition) from the Clinton
administration.....
This development has puzzled me in a way -- because I left the "industry"
at a time when the 'wave of the future' in communications/TV,
etc., appeared to be the **fiber-optics** possibilities of land lines
(often provided by the electrical industry rather than the
telecommunications boys....)
I believe that a good case can still be made on behalf of the fiber optics
option..... (Bermuda, for example, is a perfect situation for fiber
optics.) But one hears NOTHING about that option any more.... My
investigation (if I were to make one) would lead in the direction of the
"insider" political influence gained by the telecommunications "boys" over
the past six years of the Clinton administration????? The
telecommunications "executives" and the industry as a whole have been BIG
political spenders with both Clinton and Gore in recent years?????
I tell you, our system is becoming so transparent -- so much a $$$$$ game
-- you just should never let it get out of your mind when trying to figure
out what is going on..... Think $$$$$$ as you read Libby's submission
below..... Then, you can see ... it does have a connection to the EMF
saga.....
Cheerio.....
Roy Beavers (EMFguru)
rbeavers@llion.org................
...It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness...
.................PEOPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN PROFITS...............
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 10:16:43 -0700
From: Libby Kelley
To: rbeavers@llion.org
Subject: Wireless carriers and "truth in billing"
Roy:
This is not a RFR health issue, rather, this is a "pocketbook" issue.
The FCC is developing federal rules on "truth in billing" procedures for
all common carriers. This proposed rule would exempt wireless carriers
because, according to the CTIA, "in a competitive market, a bill becormes a
tool". According to FCC, over 60,000 wireline customers complained about
service last year, whereas only 60 written complaints about wireless
carriers were received. I wonder, does FCC keep track of the number of
complaints coming into the FCC Wireless Bureau about the towers being sited
over citizen and local government objection all over the country? Those
calls must be in the inosphere! When Congress holds hearing on the
widespread abuses by this market driven industry being reported by citizens
all over the country, these numbers will be revealing (if they are keeping
track).
Once the rules are final and the free market forces are rolling along, what
will consumers do if they are getting short shrift by the carriers? When
the deregulatory frenzy ends and re-monopolization reinstates the
predominance of the top two or three carriers, how will the availability of
carriers spur competition? When the free phones and initial inducements to
go wireless are no longer offered when the cost of equipment, access fees,
service charges and add-on fees start mounting, how will consumers hold
this new public utility accountable? We won't be able to.
Based on the performance of this industry thus far, I am skeptical about
"waiting and seeing" that the private entrepreuners who run these companies
will do the right thing for the common good. I recommend people look for
this rule when it emerges for comment and let FCC know granting this much
flexibility to corporatioons that behave like bullies is not in the public
interest.
Libby Kelley
FCC ADOPTS TRUTH-IN-BILLING RULES THAT LARGELY EXEMPT WIRELESS CARRIERS
At this morning's Open Agenda Meeting, the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) adopted "Truth-in-Billing" rules for all common carriers,
but immediately exempted CMRS carriers from the most onerous of these
rules. "This decision reflects how the competitive wireless industry is
different from others covered by the action," said Tom Wheeler, president
and CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA).
"In a competitive market like wireless, the bill actually becomes a tool.
The Commission's decision reflects how they did not want to stifle this
competition by imposing a standard format. We applaud the commission's
decision."
Three of the billing rules adopted today will apply to wireless carriers.
These three rules require all carriers, including CMRS carriers: (1) to
provide in their customer bills the name of the company providing the
service(s) contained in the bill, and (2) to provide a toll-free telephone
number where customers can reach the service provider's customer service
representative. CTIA understands that for wireless services, the toll-free
number requirement can be satisfied by carriers providing free air-time for
subscribers calling the carrier's customer service number. In other words,
CMRS subscribers should be able to reach their carrier using their wireless
phone without charge; but there is no obligation to provide a toll-free
landline customer service number.
In addition to listing the carrier's name and providing a toll-free
customer service number, the third requirement that will apply to all
carriers, including CMRS carriers, is an obligation to describe federal
mandates and requirements, such as charges for Universal Service, in a
uniform manner. Today's order does not include the government-approved
language for these mandates; instead, the FCC is releasing a Further Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking that will seek comment on the appropriate wording to
describe the various government requirements.
While the comments of many of the Commissioners indicated their reluctance
to exempt wireless carriers from the other Truth-in-Billing requirements,
in the end, the facts carried the day. As CTIA stressed in its comments
and lobbying, there are relatively few complaints concerning wireless
carriers' billing practices. At today's meeting, it was noted that while
the FCC has received more than 60,000 complaints (of all kinds) about
wireline billing practices, in the past six months, the Commission has
received only 60 written complaints relating to CMRS billing practices.
Nearly every Commissioner noted the positive record of the CMRS industry,
as well as their willingness to revisit today's forbearance if these facts
should change.
CTIA will provide additional information on today's Truth-in-Billing
rulemaking Order when the text of the Order and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking is released.
Archive provided courtesy of WaveGuide, http://www.wave-guide.org
Reprinted with permission of Roy Beavers, http://www.feb.se/EMF-L/EMF-L.html