WASHINGTON-California regulators could issue a proposed decision as early as next week on their year-long investigation of Cingular Wireless L.L.C., according to a source close to the probe.
The California Public Utilities Commission launched a probe into the business practices of Cingular Wireless in June 2002, following complaints about service quality and early termination fees charged to subscribers who wanted out of their contracts.
Cingular Wireless, which earlier this summer was in settlement talks with the California PUC, faces more than $80 million in fines.
Lauren Garner, a Cingular Wireless spokeswoman, said the company expects a preliminary ruling by the administrative law judge in the near future. “Cingular’s business practices always have been and continue to be customer focused, lawful and fair,” said Garner.
Despite the apparent likelihood of a PUC decision shortly, Garner said Cingular continues to be open to settlement discussions.
On a related front, the California PUC is scheduled to vote later this month on a new bill of rights for telecommunications consumers. The mobile-phone industry opposes the draft decision issued by the PUC in late July.
