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Cell Phone Bill Aims to Guard Rights in Bay State

Posted on: Tuesday, 4 October 2005, 21:00 CDT

By EMELIE RUTHERFORD (METROWEST DAILY NEWS)

Lawmakers are asking the cell phone industry, "Can you hear me now?"

A proposed "Cell Phone Users' Bill of Rights" - the first of its kind in the nation - is up for debate on Beacon Hill today.

Fixing dead zones, shortening contracts to one year and offering bills customers can understand are all part of the legislation.

Lawmakers said the bill, filed in the state Senate by Sen. Jarrett Barrios (D-Cambridge) and in the House by state Rep. Steven Walsh (D-Lynn), is a vital protection for consumers figuring out the nascent cell phone industry.

Barrios calls the bill a "Lemon Law" for cell phones.

"People spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars a year on their cell phones and a basic bill of rights that lays out what they can expect . . . is only fair," he said.

Fellow co-sponsor state Rep. David Linsky (D-Natick) said the bill would give cell phone users protections similar to those provided by the landline telephone industry.

"No one expected the growth that we've had in cell phone usage in this country and sometimes consumers haven't been as well protected in dealing with cell phone companies," Linsky said.

If the bill of rights passes, Massachusetts would be the only state to have such a consumer protection system for cell phone users.

Industry representatives said they plan to fight the legislation during a hearing of the joint Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee today.

"Regulation may be important if you're in a monopoly situation, but the wireless industry is extremely competitive," said David Thomson, spokesman for Verizon Wireless, one of four major carriers in the state.

Thomson predicted the legislation could hurt customers because companies may drop nationwide plans for Massachusetts customers because of a mix of rules governing cell phones.

"The competitive pressures are on the industry to conform to what the customers' wishes are," said Cingular Wireless New England spokesman Marty Nee, who said they already offer some of what this bill is calling for.

Source: Boston Herald

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