Consumer Activists Angered by P.U.C. Decision
Despite protests from consumer activists, the state Public Utilities Commission voted on Thursday to suspend an eight-month-old crackdown on abusive practices in the cell phone industry.
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(Sacramento, CA)
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Consumer activists say the commission’s decision is outrageous. We’re shocked, we’re appalled and we’re horrified. Mindy Spatt with the watchdog group The Utility Reform Network says the commission’s vote is a dramatic turnaround from last May, when the same agency passed the nation’s toughest wireless phone regulations. For them to go back now after the fact and put what they’re calling a stay on it which is a stay that I think they hope will be permanent is just an outrageous abuse of the process. Commission members say the rules imposed too many unreasonable burdens on cell phone companies. The push to hold the wireless phone industry more accountable was prompted by rampant consumer complaints alleging false advertising and confusing billing practices. Steve Milne - KXJZ news.