Senators Propose Bill to Make Carriers be Clear to Consumers About 4G Network Claims
Senators Amy Kobuchar and Al Franken from Minnesota and Senator Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut have proposed a bill to congress that would affect how carriers advertise their 4G service at least starting at the point of sale and extending to public material regarding their claims.
The bill would force carriers to be clear about what minimum and maximum network speeds their “4G” can potentially produce as well as details about realistic network reliability, coverage maps (mostly everyone has this), pricing, technology used and details about anything that may affect the performance of their 4G network.
For instance, Sprint would have to educate users on the WiMax technology and any conditions that may affect their use of the 4G network. We can think of at least five negative network conditions right off the bat from the Now Network, but that’s not what we’re here for at this time.
Ever since the ITC changed their standard for what could be considered a 4G network just to appease to North American carriers, these operators have been using general terms like “lightning fast” and “blazing fast” to describe their network. While they do offer public knowledge of their specific networks’ capabilities, some don’t actively advertise it – even at the point of sale.
All 4G networks certainly aren’t created equal. This was evident when AT&T and Sprint quickly committed to 4G LTE after the former tried to slide by with HSPA+ while the latter’s WiMax expansion has come to a complete standstill.
Beyond that, spectrum has a lot to do with 4G performance – anyone with Sprint service will tell you that getting 4G signal inside a building – even if you’re near a window – is a pain. With this bill, we’d like to see things like Sprint being forced to inform their consumers that 4G performance my falter inside buildings due to being on non-friendly spectrum. Read on for full press details.
Rep. Eshoo Applauds Senate Introduction of 4G Legislation by Senators Blumenthal, Klobuchar and Franken
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto), top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, applauded Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Al Franken (D-MN) for introducing a Senate companion bill to the Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act, which she introduced in the U.S. House in June.
“Consumers deserve to know exactly what they’re getting when they sign up for a two year wireless data plan,” said Rep. Eshoo. “Consumers want faster and faster phones, and demand for 4G is only going to increase. But they also deserve to know the truth about the speeds they’re actually getting. Wireless companies advertise 4G service as ‘lightening fast’ and ‘super-charged,’ but that’s not always the case. My legislation is simple – it will require truth in advertising.
“I’m proud that Senators Blumenthal, Klobuchar and Franken have introduced this legislation in the Senate. With their help, we can make sure that consumers have all the information they need to make an informed choice about which wireless data service to purchase.”
Senators Blumenthal, Klobuchar and Franken introduced the legislation earlier today in the Senate, and released the following statements:
Sen. Blumenthal said, “As consumers become more reliant on Internet capabilities from their mobile devices, it is essential that they have the most accurate and useful information about the products and plans they are purchasing. Whether they are using a tablet or a smartphone, wireless users deserve an honest description by companies of product capabilities. I’m proud to introduce the Senate companion to the bill that Representative Eshoo has worked so tirelessly on in the House to help bring fairness and certainty to consumers.”
Sen. Klobuchar said, “When consumers purchase a 4G wireless plan, they have the right to know exactly what they’re getting for their money. This legislation will help ensure that wireless companies are honest about their product’s capabilities so consumers can get a fair deal.”
Sen. Franken said, “While wireless data makes it easier for people all over Minnesota to do their jobs and to access music, movies, and books from virtually anywhere, it’s important that consumers know what they’ll be paying for when they sign a contract. Wireless providers need to make sure their customers can count on the speed, reliability, and the price they were promised when they signed up. And if they can’t fulfill their promise, they need to be held accountable.”
As it stands there is no standard definition for 4G wireless broadband internet, allowing the four major wireless companies in the United States to advertise several different technologies as “4G,” despite vastly different speeds based on their wireless provider and location. The Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act would require wireless companies to disclose the details listed below in their marketing and advertising at the point of sale and in all billing materials.
• Guaranteed minimum data speed
• Network reliability
• Coverage area maps
• Pricing
• Technology used to provide 4G service
• Network conditions that can impact the speed of applications and services used on the network
The legislation will further require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to evaluate the speed and price of 4G wireless data service provided by the top ten U.S. wireless carriers. This will provide consumers with access to a side-by-side comparison in their service area. For full background on Rep. Eshoo’s Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act (H.R. 2281), please click here. Rep. Eshoo’s legislation has been endorsed by several groups, including the Consumers Union, the National Consumers League, New America Foundation, the Media Access Project and Public Knowledge. A copy of the bill can be accessed here.
Eshoo serves as the Ranking Member on House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee.