WASHINGTON-Massachusetts state lawmakers are pushing for a cell-phone consumer bill of rights law, pointing to a new study on billing, service, contracts and other problems encountered by wireless subscribers.
“We shouldn’t be asking cell-phone customers to accept bad customer service confusing bills, and hidden fees,” said Sen. Jarrett Barrios (D), a member of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. “It’s time for us to adopt a strict bill of rights that will force companies to treat customers with respect and openness.”
Barrios, who in the past has raised privacy concerns about radio frequency identification systems, is co-sponsoring the cell-phone consumer bill of rights measure with Rep. Steven Walsh (D).
The legislation was prompted by new findings of the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group in a report titled “Can You Hear Us Now? A report on how the cell phone industry has failed consumers.”
Massachusetts becomes the second state to call for a bill of rights for wireless customers. The California Public Utilities Commission last May approved a bill of rights for wireless and wireline telecom consumers. However, the CPUC rule was recently suspended so that state regulators can re-examine the telecom consumer guidelines. In response, several California lawmakers introduced legislation to make the bill of rights a state law.
