FCC chief ready to regulate termination fees

[GoodThings2Life]

Two things:

I agree that ETF's are annoying, especially if you didn't buy a subsidized priced phone and because they aren't prorated. I am all for changing the way ETF's are handled.

That said, I have never and will never support ANY GOVERNMENT BODY (regardless of any administration in any country or time period for any reason) regulating business. The FCC in its entire existence has served only to stifle innovation and deployment of communication infrastructure in this country. They are the reason why broadband deployment to rural areas is so slow. I mean seriously, companies are greedy, they'll spend the money to deploy it as long as people are willing to pay for it, and people are just crazy enough to pay for it. So to hell with government regulation!

[GoodThings2Life]

Originally Posted by Trident

Which is true if you recently got a heavily discounted phone.
But I've been with Sprint for many years- they extend my contract every time I change plans or get some little discount. If I were to decide to terminate early, I don't think I'd see my 5% discount as a good trade-off for some $150 or more early termination fee.
Good thing I'm not considering leaving them any time soon.

Oops. I guess I should have read the rest of the posts before saying the same thing.

I just got my phone in October 2007. I have changed my plan twice since then and have yet to experience a contract extension. This included changing to Simply Everything.

[shaggylive]

yes, goodthings is correct sprint changed that policy a few years back.

I also agree with him that the government needs to much less involved with everything. however, some things do need some regulation, and I believe communications is one. (I wouldn't want my competitor to create a radio that interferes with mine...)

that being said, the FCC has simply been poorly ran for far too long. kinda like the FDA, FBI,.... just nice to see the "public" having a say for once.

the point of this possible regulation, is because currently it's different between states, ect...

what I hope the ultimate outcome of something like this is an OPEN system, like the EU, where you buy the phone for the phone, and buy the service for the service.

[joe3789]

Originally Posted by Tiberius85

I dont think customers realize that the early termination fees associated with long term contracts are high are to pay back the subsidies they received on their heavily discounted phone.

I agree. But, the termination fee should be prorated to be considerate of the amount paid per month to date towards the "discounted" amount and considerate of the age of the contract.

[coup_detat]

Hows about the FCC ban termination fees? Isn't it about time that government institutions get back to doing what they were "instituted" for, working for the people? WTF, we pay the FCC regulatory fees, not the corporations and we pay federal taxes, isn't the FCC a federally funded department? I'm off my soapbox now

[themirthfulswami]

I'd be fine paying an early termination fee to pay up my discounted phone if I could then EASILY take said phone to another carrier and have it activated.