Electronic Comment Filing System

ECFS Filing Proceeding: 05-194
Name of Filer: Dr. Shawna Murray MD
View Filing:
Brief Comment (1)
Type of Filing: COMMENT
Exparte Presentation: NO
Date Received: 3/19/09
Date Posted: 3/20/09 9:14 AM
Address: PO Box 1375 Hampton, NH 03843-1375

I am tired of cell phone providers locking me into long-term contracts with costly early termination fees. I urge you to give consumers a more powerful marketplace and limit these exorbitant early termination fees -- but not at the expense of my legal right to sue wireless companies for potentially illegal behavior. Wireless companies say they have to charge these fees to recover "subsidies" they give consumers for free phones. But I'm skeptical that consumers are getting much or anything for free in the end, especially when these penalties range from $175 to $250. It's bad enough that I can't take my phone with me when I change cell phone companies. Why do I have to pay a penalty when I want to leave my provider for bad service? That just locks me in to paying for something I don't want. Please rein in these excessive early termination fees so I can fully utilize the power of the marketplace to get the cell phone service I want. But I urge you to not give away consumers' rights to take wireless companies to court for potentially illegal fees. Cell phone companies shouldn't get special legal treatment just for giving consumers a fair shake. Thank you for leveling the playing field for cell phone customers.