Wireless showdown. (Politics).A state regulator's proposal for a "consumer's bill of rights" for the telecom industry has the state's business community up in arms armed for war; in a state of hostility. See also: Arms . Carl Wood, one of five commissioners on the state Public Utilities Commission, has put forward a seven-point set of "rights." Among them: requiring telecom carriers to clearly disclose rates, terms and conditions for their products and services, banning the practice of "slamming The unauthorized switching of your long distance telephone provider. Unethical marketing organizations contact the local telephone company and claim that certain customers have authorized them to handle their long distance. ," in which customers are switched to different providers against their will, and requiring carriers to present their bills in "understandable" language. "Consumers will be better protected from unfair business practices with an appropriate set of rights and responsibilities," Wood said upon unveiling the bill of rights in June. But the California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). Chamber of Commerce is leading a coalition of business groups against the measure, saying it would place undue burden on the wireless industry, which until now, has not been subject to stringent marketing regulation in the state. Chamber president Alan Zaremberg last week said the bill of rights will "result in a host of unintended consequences For the "Law of unintended consequences", see Unintended consequence Unintended Consequences is a novel by author John Ross, first published in 1996 by Accurate Press. that will harm consumers." He referred to the anti-slamming and legal disclosure provisions. To combat slamming, the bill of rights requires a written and signed contract that cannot be obtained through one phone call. "Consumers will have to wait longer to activate their wireless service," Zaremberg said. The legal disclosure requirements, he said, would add "hundreds of millions of dollars" in clerical and administrative costs administrative costs, n.pl the overhead expenses incurred in the operation of a dental benefits program, excluding costs of dental services provided. . Wood last week called the Chamber's statements "alarmist a·larm·ist n. A person who needlessly alarms or attempts to alarm others, as by inventing or spreading false or exaggerated rumors of impending danger or catastrophe. ." |
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