See, some people can get along. Like the FCC and wireless trade group CTIA. The two struck a voluntary deal (no overt legal threatening disclosed just yet) to have wireless carriers send users warnings when they’re in danger of exceeding their data usage allotment, minutes, or text limits. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and CTIA president Steve Largent will announce the deal today. Largent, you may not realize, was one of the original members of the Seattle Seahawks and is a Hall of Fame wide receiver.
So he knows all about getting good reception! I’ll show myself out.
Several major carriers already provide such alerts. For example, AT&T sends text messages to consumers traveling abroad to tell them that international roaming rates apply. The nation’s largest wireless providers, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA, have agreed to the new guidelines.
The alerts sent to customers from the carriers will be free of charge to customers, but people are able to opt out of the warnings if they choose to do so.
In other wireless news, Sens. Klobuchar (D – Minn.) and Franken (D – Minn.) introduced a bill to the Senate that would require wireless companies to explain what their 4G service provides, including data transfer speeds. If a company doesn’t hold up to its end of the bargain, it can be held accountable.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
