Could a "Schumer Box" help wireless/broadband consumers?

October 15th, 2009

The Federal Communications Commission wants
to know if consumers are getting
the advertising and billing information they need to make good choices about their broadband and/or mobile phone
plans, and the answers are coming in from trade and reform groups.
Not surprisingly, they read like alternate reality documents. To peruse CTIA
- The Wireless Association’s 157-page response to
the FCC, you might come away
with the impression that
mobile owners swoon with joy upon the arrival of their monthly
statement. Meanwhile the comments of the Consumer Federation of America
and five
similar groups portray a dark, foggy ad landscape where Jane Q. Broadband-user

stumbles
about,
at best only vaguely aware of how many ways her pocket is about to be picked.