The federal government would set and enforce quality standards for cell-phone service under legislation to be introduced in Congress this week.
Rep. Anthony D. Weiner (D-Brooklyn/Queens) said the law would direct the Federal Communications Commission to create minimum requirements involving dead spots, calls that suddenly fade out, network busy signals and improper billing.
The proposed law would also establish a “#FCC” hot line for complaints and have the agency report its findings on the Internet.
Speaking outside a Midtown AT&T store, Weiner said there are now no state or federal laws regulating cell phones.
Weiner said if his bill passes, “when consumers use cell phones, they will have someone they can reach out and touch with their complaints.
“The FCC has expressed its frustration,” he said. “They get [complaint] calls and can’t be helpful.”
Weiner said he expects to receive support from cellular phone companies. He said the better companies would be able to use the FCC reports to their advantage by showing they had the fewest complaints, or the best service record.
“Hopefully the industry sees the wisdom in supporting regulation,” Weiner said. “Otherwise they could face tougher laws. And if they don’t get the message this way, they will when customers start filing class-action law suits.”
Those suits could stem from lost 911 calls. The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association says more than 43 million calls were placed to the emergency number from cell phones in 1999, leaving plenty of opportunity for a lost call.
“Nine-one-one is a boon to law enforcement,” Weiner said. “People rely upon it. A lost call could be a matter of life and death.”