Fergie's Tech Blog

U.S. Telecom Reporting Rule May Be Eased

Cecilia Kang writes in The Washington Post:

Phone giants AT&T, Verizon Communications and Qwest today are expected to win approval to report less information to the Federal Communications Commission on such matters as consumer complaints and infrastructure investments.

A decision by the FCC to curtail the information may, however, open the gates for a broader review of data collected by the commission and could be expanded to include cable, satellite and wireless phone providers that are not currently required to submit similar reports.

The reports offer rich details into the number of consumer complaints, waiting times for repairs and money put into technological upgrades by the largest phone service providers.

As consumers rely more on technology -- spending $150 to $200 a month per household on Internet, phone and television services -- consumer groups say the reports are often the only source for detailed data that show how the providers are responding to service complaints and whether companies are investing enough in upgrading their networks.

posted by Fergie @ 9/04/2008 10:11:00 PM