WASHINGTON-The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association expects to unveil its consumer code of conduct Sept. 9.
“The wireless industry will unveil its voluntary consumer code, designed to help ensure that wireless carriers remain the best informed, most knowledgeable telecommunication consumers,” according to the association.
The news follows a report released earlier this week from The Progress & Freedom Foundation, a pro-market think tank, that it claims shows the proposed California Telecommunication Users Bill of Rights will cost consumers and only benefit lawyers.
“Plaintiff and class-action lawyers-not consumers-would be the ultimate beneficiaries of new wireless phone regulations being pushed by government regulators in California,” said PFF in a statement accompanying the study by Paul Rubin, the Samuel Candler Dobbs professor of economics and law at Emory University and a PFF Senior Fellow.
In the study, Rubin argues that requiring uniformity would unnecessarily add cost. Rubin told RCR Wireless News he was unaware of an effort being spearheaded by CTIA that is expected to bring some consistency and uniformity to the wireless industry.
The California Telecommunications Users Bill of Rights details consumer rights that all communications service providers must respect, as well as a set of consumer protection rules all carriers must follow to protect those rights. The consumer protection safeguards detailed in the bill of rights include such issues as carrier disclosure, marketing practices, service initiation and changes, billing, late-payment penalties, contract changes, privacy and 911 service.
Parties may file comments pointing out factual, legal or technical errors in the draft decision by Aug. 24.
