[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 156 (Tuesday, October 16, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12940-S12941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PRYOR:
  S. 2171. A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish 
a uniform set of customer service and consumer protection requirements 
for providers of wireless telecommunications services; to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I rise to introduce legislation that will 
bring important consumer protections to millions of wireless telephone 
customers across the country. The Uniform Wireless Consumer Protection

[[Page S12941]]

Act requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish uniform 
national customer service and consumer protection rules for wireless 
customers that are both timely and necessary. My bill is identical to 
language approved with bipartisan support by the Senate Commerce 
Committee during the 109th Congress.
  In 1993, through the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, Congress 
limited State and local regulatory authority on wireless carriers to 
help the fledgling industry establish itself in the communications 
arena. That decision has helped to drive today's market of 240 million 
wireless customers in the U.S. Today, carrying a wireless telephone, a 
BlackBerry, or some other kind of wireless device has become part of 
the fabric of many peoples' lives. Wireless technology has become a 
commonplace communication option, and an increasing number of Americans 
have replaced their landline telephone in favor of a purely mobile 
telephone service.
  While we have accomplished the goal of growing the wireless industry, 
we have yet to establish a uniform set of customer service and consumer 
protection requirements. Now is the time to finish the job we started 
in 1993 by enacting a national framework that will drive a new era of 
consumer-friendly wireless services.
  This national consumer framework is not without challenges. The 
ability of wireless to travel beyond State boundaries tests our 
customary approaches to customer service and consumer protection 
standards at the state and local level. But nothing in this bill should 
be misconstrued as a statement against consumer obligations by State 
and local governments. As a former Attorney General of Arkansas, I feel 
very strongly about the inimitable ability of State and local 
governments to oversee and enforce consumer protections. State and 
local governments are unmatched in their function to provide effective 
protection and enforcement, and final rules must recognize and require 
a strong role for states in wireless consumer protection.
  In addition, my colleagues Senator Klobuchar and Senator Rockefeller 
have introduced a bill, S. 2033, the Cell Phone Consumer Empowerment 
Act of 2007, that shares the same goal of protecting wireless 
consumers, and I look forward to working with them. Uniform wireless 
consumer protection rules must be comprehensive and address a broad 
range of issues, including disclosures of contract terms and 
conditions, service-area maps, trail periods and early termination 
fees. We also need to weigh the benefits and the burdens of government 
fees and taxes, as well as the costs of compliance with government 
regulations on wireless services.
  I know my constituents want to be assured of their consumer 
protections when they buy and use wireless service, wherever they go 
and wherever they use their wireless phones. This bill begins an 
important debate on building uniform, comprehensive rules that provide 
a fair, transparent and quality wireless service to consumers across 
the Nation. While there is much work to be done in achieving a balance 
of rules that truly work for consumers, there is a clear need for a 
federal wireless regulatory framework. I am confident that we can reach 
this goal.
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