FCC Seeks Comment on Additional Opportunities to Educate Consumers

Posted in: Inside TAD, TAD Announcements by TAD Administration on October 9, 2009 | 0 Comments

 

 

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking information from the public that can shed light on the general state of awareness about the purchase of communications services and opportunities to improve consumer welfare. 

 

On August 28, 2009, the FCC issued a Notice of Inquiry on whether there are additional opportunities to protect and empower Amer ican consumers by ensuring sufficient access to meaningful information about communications services. The services include wireline and wireless telephone, broadband and subscription video services (TV provided by cable, satellite, and phone companies). We invite the public to file comments in this proceeding to ensure that consumers have the information they need to make informed decisions in the communications marketplace. We encourage you to share this opportunity to comment with other interested parties.
 

The FCC’s approach to information disclosure issues has traditionally focused on the formatting of consumer’s telephone bills. The Notice goes beyond that and asks questions about the information available to consumers at each stage of the purchasing process for a variety of communications services including: (1) choosing a provider, (2) choosing a service plan, (3) managing use of the service plan, and (4) deciding whether and when to switch an existing provider or plan for all communications services.
 

The Notice also seeks particular comment on cost-effective best practices in information disclosure from within the communications sector – as well as examples from other areas such as nutrition labeling on food products, fuel efficiency for automobiles, and rates and fees for credit cards.
 

With respect to all the issues discussed in the Notice, we seek comment on whether consumers with disabilities are being well served by the information about communications services that is currently available to them, and the manner it is being provided to them.
 

A copy of the Notice of Inquiry can be found on the FCC’s website at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-68A1.pdf To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY).
 

Comments in this proceeding are due by October 13, 2009 and replies are due by October 28, 2009. Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS): http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov Detailed instructions for filing comments can also be found in the Notice of Inquiry.
 

Consumers may also file comments through the FCC’s simplified ECFS Express System at: http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/ecfs/Upload/. Select "Consumer Information and Disclosure – Docket 09-158" and then click on "Continue" to submit your comments.

 
For more information visit the FCCs Web page on the NOI at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/disclosure.html.