Senators Propose Wireless Consumer Protection Bill

Two senators submitted a bill today that would set federal standards overseeing billing and contracts, and investigate the role handset locking plays in the consumption of wireless goods and services. The bill, called the Cellphone Consumer Empowerment Act of 2007, challenges the cellular industry and could place more regulatory control in the hands of individual state governments. One issue the senators hope to tackle is the listing of government taxes and fees on bills that are often other expenses being passed to subscribers. Wireless industry organizations, including the CTIA, denounced the proposal as detrimental to the public.