WASHINGTON-A federal appeals court Tuesday stayed the Federal Communications Commission’s rules regarding the unauthorized switching of long-distance carriers, a practice known as slamming. The rules went into effect May 17.
Long-distance carriers, specifically MCI Worldcom Inc., argued the rules were too stringent.
AT&T Corp. hailed the ruling, while FCC Chairman William Kennard decried the ruling, saying, “Consumers should not have to pay when they are slammed. To me, this is a matter of fundamental fairness. Yet MCI Worldcom has challenged this simple concept and seeks to undermine our new anti-slamming rules in the courts. I am disappointed by this effort and by the stay, but we will continue the fight to protect consumers from slamming, and I am confident we will ultimately prevail on their behalf.”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is not expected to hear oral argument in the case until September.
