TRACNotes
Vol. 2 # 29 --
July 23, 2004
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AT&T Decision to Abandon Residential Market Hurts Consumers - "Consumers are the real losers today," said TRAC chairman and founder Samuel Simon Thursday in response to AT&T's decision to leave the residential market for local and long distance telephone service. "The company has decided to use their customers as pawns in an effort to intimidate regulators, said Simon. "The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should not negotiate with bullies." AT&T announced the decision Thursday, saying that it was "shifting its focus away from traditional consumer services," to concentrate on advanced services like Voice Over Internet Protocal (VoIP) that serve both business and residential customers. AT&T will continue to serve existing local and long distance residential customers, though it will no longer seek out new customers. About four million customers rely on AT&T for local phone service. Click here(iii) to access AT&T's press release and click here(iv) to view TRAC's statement on this issue.
SPAM WATCH
Readers Report More Spam Since CAN SPAM Act Took Effect - TRACNotes readers say that they continue to be deluged with spam e-mail since the federal CAN SPAM Act took effect on January 1, 2004. "The spam has increased dramatically -- especially the emails depicting porn sites, lowering mortgages, losing weight/diet products, investing schemes, unwanted online money-making ‘opportunities', and many other ‘trash sites,'" wrote one respondent to last week's request in TRACNotes for readers' spam experiences since January 1. "What I have noticed [is] an increase in is the e-mails [that] were sent out by virus programs," wrote another reader. Yet another reader writes: "You could have the toughest and most comprehensive laws against spam possible but they don't mean anything without enforcement. As long as this and other spam laws are not enforced, this pandemic catastrophe will continue unabated." While most of the e-mails we received reported an increase in spam, more users appear to be taking advantage of spam blocking software to limit the damage somewhat. "There will not be a silver bullet that will cure spam," said TRAC research associate John Breyault. "The solution to spam will most likely be achieved by a three-pronged approach of tougher legislation and enforcement, more effective technology, and better consumer education about spam," said Breyault.
WIRELESS WATCH
What Improvements Would You Like to See in Your Wireless Service? - As wireless phones become increasingly complex do-everything technological marvels, TRAC would like to hear from TRACNotes readers about what they really want to see out of their wireless service. Better cameras? Better coverage? Easier-to-read bills? More hard drive capacity for MP3's? Better customer service? E-mail your thoughts to trac@trac.org for possible inclusion in a future edition of TRACNotes (Editors note: Readers' submissions published in TRACNotes will not be quoted by name).
TRAC IN THE NEWS
TRAC Chairman Comments On Settlement By Wireless Carriers - The recently announced $5 million settlement between three of the nation's largest wireless carriers and thirty-two states is "paltry," said TRAC chairman and founder Samuel Simon in Thursday's New Jersey Star-Ledger. "I don't know why they settled for this," Simon said of the agreement. "There's not a whole lot to jump up and down on." The settlement ends an investigation into the marketing practices of Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS, and Cingular Wireless. According to the terms of the settlement, carriers will be required to give new customers fourteen days to cancel a new wireless contract without having to pay significant termination fees. The plan also provides a three-day period during which consumers can cancel service without being charged any termination or activation fees which can be as high as $200. Carriers will also be required to provide clear explanations of contract terms and conditions as well as more accurate coverage area maps. Most carriers are already following these requirements voluntarily as part of the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association's (CTIA) Consumer Code, but the settlement gives these requirements the added force of law. To view the Star-Ledger story, click here(v). For more information on the CTIA Consumer Code, click here(vi).
INTERESTING LINKS
FCC Main Page - http://www.fcc.gov
FCC Complaint Form - http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cib/fcc475.cfm
List of State Regulatory Commissions - http://www.naruc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=15
What do you think? Got a tip you want to share? Nominate your "Scam of the Week" and your "Tip of the Week" - If we select your submission, we'll give you a one-year free membership in TRAC and acknowledge your contribution by name in TRACNotes. Send an e-mail to trac@trac.org to submit your ideas!
©2004 Telecommunications Research and Action Center. TRAC grants unlimited rights to reproduce TRACNotes or any information contained in it provided attribution is given as follows: "Source:Telecommunications Research and Action Center. http://www.trac.org"
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