Easy come, easy go. Sources familiar with the issue are now saying that the FCC-proposed early termination fee agreement with carriers might be in the dumps, though talks officially continue. Though, it might not be a terrible thing. Sure, we’d love to do something about these fees, but the trade-off proposed in the matter doesn’t seem like one consumers would unilaterally accept. The deal, simply, is that carriers would gain protection from lawsuits, while we would shed ETFs.
“We’re concerned about eliminating consumers’ right to sue, with an uncertain benefit on the other side,” said Chris Murray, senior counsel for Consumers Union. “But this deal is very much fluid, no one can confidently say anything about it yet.”
The carriers would also be getting a handout in the deal, in the form of a federal preemption of state-regulated fees.
Senator Amy Klobouchar (D-MN), quickly becoming one of my favorite Congresspeople, lays it on the line:
“For years, wireless companies have gamed consumers out of millions of dollars through unfair practices and excessive fees. Rewarding these companies for making the practical and reasonable change of prorating their early termination fees is unacceptable,” said Klobuchar. The Minnesota lawmaker added: “Consumers deserve to have their hard-earned money refunded when appropriate. Most major carriers have announced plans to pro-rate their fees and it is long past time for these companies to live up to those assurances without being given a multimillion dollar handout by the FCC.”
Tell ‘em what time it is, Amy.
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