WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission said wireless complaints dropped in the second quarter, a shift the agency attributed to a reduction in consumer gripes about billing and rates.
At the same time, the FCC said wireless consumer complaints increased in other categories, including carrier marketing and advertising, early termination of contracts, electrical interference, service quality and coverage, and tower and licensing issues.
The commission said wireless billing and rate complaints dropped from 4,006 in the first quarter to 3,320 in the second quarter. Overall wireless consumer complaints fell from 7,330 in the first quarter to 6,783 in the second quarter.
The data reported reflect complaints and inquires collected by the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau between April 1 and June 30.
Inquiries from wireless consumers dropped slightly in the second quarter to 10,297 from 10,774 in the first quarter, according to the FCC.
The FCC’s quarterly report comes as the California Public Utilities Commission today begins the first of two days of hearings on Commissioner Susan Kennedy’s plan to scale back the telecom consumer bill of rights approved by the state agency last year. A major issue in dispute in the California proceeding is the CPUC Office of Ratepayer Advocates’ representation of wireless complaints received between 2000 and 2004.
The mobile-phone industry is opposed to any additional wireless consumer protection rules in California.
