WASHINGTON-Cingular Wireless L.L.C. told the five California Public Utility Commission members that findings leading to a record $12 million fine against the mobile-phone carrier are flawed, claiming on appeal that its network service quality is not inferior to other wireless carriers in the state.
In oral argument before the CPUC yesterday, Cingular said $1.6 billion was invested in the California network between 2000 and 2002, the period during which regulators investigated complaints against the company. Moreover, Cingular lawyers claimed that during that time, more than 98 percent of all Cingular calls in California were completed on the first try, and service quality was among the best in the state. The carrier said there is no evidence it should have known it violated a network quality standard that did not exist.
“These facts and others reflect Cingular’s ongoing commitment to provide our millions of customers with top-notch, quality wireless service. Our business practices always have been and continue to be customer-focused, lawful and fair,” said Michael Bennett, a Cingular Wireless spokesman. “In addition to arguing the facts about our business practices, Cingular disputes the fairness of the proposed decision.”
On a separate track, the California PUC is considering a bill of rights for telecom consumers that would impose new rules on mobile-phone operators in the state. The wireless industry, which has begun addressing consumer grievances in a new industry code of conduct, opposes the bill of rights.
