Consumer Reports released results of Feb. story on cellphone qual...
Consumer Reports released results of Feb. story on cellphone quality, with Consumers Union (CU) Pres. James Guest charging carriers hadn’t lived up to their promises to subscribers. He said in conference call with reporters that enough disparity lingered between…
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cellphone and fixed line service that customers shouldn’t give up their wireline phones. “What we are asking for at Consumers Union is for accountability from the cellphone industry to make good on their promises,” he said. Among differences are current inability of wireless subscribers to be able to call 911 and have operator pinpoint their exact location, Guest said. He said CU also took exception to petition pending at FCC that would have Commission forbear from local number portability requirements for mobile carriers. Verizon Wireless has forbearance request pending for requirement that takes effect Nov. 24 in top 100 metro statistical areas. Verizon has said it doesn’t seek similar relief from separate requirement with same deadline that mobile carriers participate in thousands- block number pooling. Guest said: “We call on the FCC to follow through and make it possible for someone to keep their phone number.” Gene Kimmelman, co-dir. of CU’s Washington office, said that based on finding of Consumer Reports research, Washington office would renew its call for FCC to take action on wireless policy areas such as Enhanced 911 and local number portability.