Plan to trim cell phone cancellation fees draws criticism

A wireless industry proposal under consideration by the government that would make it easier for cell phone customers to break up with their service providers was met with withering criticism by consumer advocates on Wednesday. The plan would give consumers a break on fees charged when they quit their service early, but would also let cell phone companies off the hook in state courts where they are being sued for hundreds of millions of dollars by angry customers. "If this plan goes through, the nation's largest cell phone carriers get a get-out-of-court-free card," said Chris Murray, senior counsel for Consumers Union. "We have long opposed limiting consumers' rights to sue, and that seems to be what we're doing here." Patrick Pearlman, a lawyer with the consumer advocate division of West Virginia's Public Service Commission, said, "The consumer protections are an inadequate fig leaf to justify federal pre-emption." The nation's No. 2 wireless company, Verizon Wireless, offered the proposal to the FCC for its review after high-level meetings with senior FCC officials. It did so in consultation with other leading wireless companies, whose executives indicated they would not oppose its provisions.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/21/america/Cell-Phone-Fees.php