TECHNOLOGY DAILY
Consumer groups and some lawmakers say that the growing influence of the telecommunications lobby has caused the failure of nine bills aimed at increasing consumer rights in California.
MediaNews reports that telecom firms have poured more than $7 million into campaign accounts since 2005.
“I can’t think of another industry except the insurance industry back in the early 1980s that begs for regulation as much as the cell-phone industry does,” consumer advocate Harvey Rosenfield said.
Consumers Union says there are more complaints against the carriers than any other industry. But public utilities commissioners for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who struck down cellular rules early in his term, said regulations are bad for competition.
A spokesman for the wireless industry group CTIA said such measures ultimately are bad for consumers.
