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Massachusetts Plans a Cell Phone Bill of Rights

Posted by Zonk on from the power-to-the-callers dept.

freaktheclown writes "Via Engadget, the news that Massachusetts' state legislature is considering a cell phone bill of rights, which would 'limit contracts to one year, require easier to understand monthly bills, and force carriers to fix dead zones.' You may recall that California adopted a similar bill of rights last year before it was shelved last January."

2 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. All of these "rights"... by jxyama · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Are carriers "allowed" to adhere to offer these "rights" by raising the price? Why don't we let the economics of the industry take care of this? T-Mobile offers one year contracts, but makes you (generally) pay more for the phones. You can't eat the cake (heavily subsidized phones) and have it too (short contract).

  2. Fixing Dead Zones? by gbulmash · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Fixing dead zones? Then Anthony Michael Hall would be out of a job.

    But seriously folks...

    Also, fixing dead zones, AFAIK, would require more cell towers. If the lack in some areas was due to municipal zoning issues, how is that reconciled? Does the state bill allow the cell carriers to steamroll city/county planning commissions?

    The main question on my mind, though, is would the cell phone carriers offer fewer freebies and worse deals if contracts were limited to one year, or would the competition in the market end up causing Mass. consumers to get deals on one-year contract that the rest of the country only gets on two-year contracts.

    - Greg

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    Start a happiness pandemic