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New York City sues T-Mobile, alleging 'abusive' sales tactics
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FCC Agenda
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the FCC Open Meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 26, 2019:
The Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and Connect USVI Fund – The FCC will consider a Report and Order that would allocate $950 million in fixed and mobile high-cost universal service support for Stage 2 of the Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund to expand, improve, and harden communications networks in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The FCC will also consider an Order on Reconsideration that would dispose of two petitions related to Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and Connect USVI Fund advance support and Stage 1 support. (WC Docket Nos. 18-143, 10-90, 14-58).
Access Arbitrage – The FCC will consider a Report and Order and Modification of Section 214 Authorizations that would adopt reforms to eliminate wasteful access arbitrage schemes and promote the efficient use of the nation’s communications networks. (WC Docket No. 18-155)
3.5 GHz Auction Procedures – The FCC will consider a Public Notice that would seek comment on procedures to be used for Auction 105, the auction of Priority Access Licenses (PALs) in the 3550-3650 MHz band. (AU Docket 19-244)
Public Notice of the Filing of Broadcast Applications Rules – The FCC will consider a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would propose to modernize and simplify the written and on-air public notices broadcasters must provide upon the filing of certain applications. (MB Docket Nos. 17-264, 17-105, 05-6)
Updating and Streamlining Rules for the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service – The FCC will consider a Report and Order that would align the Direct Broadcast Satellite licensing procedures with those of the geostationary orbit fixed-satellite service satellites. (IB Docket No. 06-160)
Altice became the latest cable company to launch a mobile service offering. The offering, Altice Mobile, comes with an attractive introductory price of just $20 a month “for life” for unlimited data, text, talk and mobile hotspot nationwide. The $20 offer is only available to people who subscribe to Altice’s Optimum or Suddenlink service, however. (Those are the brands associated with Cablevision and Suddenlink – two companies that Altice purchased to gain a foothold in the U.S.) Customers who don’t use Optimum or Suddenlink service but are “in or near” the company’s footprint can get the same offer for $30 a month. The offer includes unlimited text and talk to more than 35 countries – a capability that apparently leverages Altice’s international holdings and agreements. The company is headquartered in Europe. Altice joins Comcast and Charter, two other major cable companies that have launched mobile service.
The New York City government sued T-Mobile, alleging that its Metro stores routinely use "abusive sales tactics" such as selling used phones as if they are new and charging customers for services they didn't order. "Abusive sales tactics are rampant at Metro stores," the complaint says. "At least several dozen have sold used phones to consumers as though they were new, charged consumers for fake taxes and unwanted services, or enrolled consumers in expensive financing plans without their consent." T-Mobile's Metro division offers prepaid service over the T-Mobile wireless network and is branded as "Metro by T-Mobile." It was known as MetroPCS until a 2018 rebranding. T-Mobile has stressed that Metro and itself are one and the same, announcing that "Metro by T-Mobile is T-Mobile," the lawsuit noted. The Metro by T-Mobile abuses "do not end at the store," the NYC lawsuit says, extending its complaint to fine print revelations on the Metro website.
Benton (www.benton.org) provides the only free, reliable, and non-partisan daily digest that curates and distributes news related to universal broadband, while connecting communications, democracy, and public interest issues. Posted Monday through Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments, policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are factually accurate, their sometimes informal tone may not always represent the tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang (headlines AT benton DOT org) and Robbie McBeath (rmcbeath AT benton DOT org) — we welcome your comments.
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