Two senators, Byron Dorgan and Daniel Inouye, have proposed a bill that enables the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to protect the consumers and go after those who engage in “fraudulent and anti-competitive behavior†in the telecommunications industry. The bill in question will forbid the telecom companies from misleading consumers in advertising, marketing and billing.
With the Chairman of the FTC, William Kovacic, supporting the bill, the support of more lawmakers may be attracted by the bill if the FCC’s ability of dealing with consumer complaints falls short. This will be determined by the Government Accountability Office.
In his testimony, Kovacic had stated the following:
“Technological advances have blurred the traditional boundaries between telecommunications, entertainment and high technology. As the telecommunications and Internet industries continue to converge, the common carrier exemption is likely to frustrate the FTC’s ability to stop deceptive and unfair acts and unfair practices and unfair methods of competition with respect to interconnected communications, information, entertainment and payment services.â€
With the industry not supporting the bill, the bill is said to establish a frame work for ETFs, billing, contracts, service quality and mapping.
