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The purpose of questions 13-18 is to identify the specific terms and conditions of wireless and landline phone service the commission has rules about. The terms and conditions are grouped by category. (Although commissions were asked about landline regulations, we are not reporting those results due to inconsistencies in some of the responses.) |
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13.
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Advertising disclosures: For each of the following terms and conditions of service, please indicate if the state utility commission has rules for both landline and wireless phone service, only landline service, only wireless service, or no rules for either. |
| (Select one for each row.) |
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13a.
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Disclosures in advertising regarding activation or initiation fees | |||||
| 13b.
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Disclosures in advertising regarding monthly access fees or base charges | |||||
| 13c.
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Disclosures in advertising regarding required contract term | |||||
| 13d.
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Disclosures in advertising regarding early termination fees | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13e.
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Disclosures in advertising regarding terms and conditions to receive a "free" product or service | |||||
| 13f.
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Disclosures in advertising regarding times of any peak and off-peak calling periods | |||||
| 13g.
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Disclosures in advertising regarding different or additional charges for out-of-network calls or for calls outside designated calling areas | |||||
| 13h.
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Disclosures in advertising regarding whether a carrier can describe a rate plan as "nationwide" | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13i.
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Disclosures in advertising regarding length of time period for promotional prices or benefits | |||||
| 13j.
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Disclosures in advertising regarding applicability of government-imposed taxes, surcharges and fees | |||||
| 13k.
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Disclosures in advertising regarding amount or range of additional surcharges or fees retained by the carrier | |||||
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14.
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Disclosure of service plan terms and conditions at the point-of-sale: For each of the following terms and conditions of service, please indicate if the state utility commission has rules for both landline and wireless phone service, only landline service, only wireless service, or no rules for either. |
| (Select one for each row.) |
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14a.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding activation or initiation fees | |||||
| 14b.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding recurring monthly charges | |||||
| 14c.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding number of airtime minutes | |||||
| 14d.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding airtime limitations while roaming | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14e.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding method by which minutes are calculated and assessed | |||||
| 14f.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding charges for additional minutes | |||||
| 14g.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding charges for directory assistance, long-distance, international, and roaming services | |||||
| 14h.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding government-imposed recurring taxes, surcharges, and fees | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14i.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding amount or range of additional surcharges or fees retained by the carrier | |||||
| 14j.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding availability of and charges for text messaging services | |||||
| 14k.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding availability of and charges for other information services (other than text messaging) | |||||
| 14l.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding equipment charges, terms for refunds and warranties | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14m.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding terms and charges for obtaining replacement equipment | |||||
| 14n.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding equipment insurance fees | |||||
| 14o.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding liability for service charges due to lost or stolen equipment | |||||
| 14p.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding liability for service charges during pending billing disputes | |||||
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15.
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Disclosure of other terms and conditions at the point-of-sale: For each of the following terms and conditions of service, please indicate if the state utility commission has rules for both landline and wireless phone service, only landline service, only wireless service, or no rules for either. |
| (Select one for each row.) |
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15a.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding county (or equivalent) area service and known service coverage gaps | |||||
| 15b.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding availability of signal coverage in the customer's residential area | |||||
| 15c.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding availability of E911 service | |||||
| 15d.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding the contract term | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15e.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding the length of the trial period | |||||
| 15f.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding conditions to change service rate plan without contract extension or penalties | |||||
| 15g.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding cancellation of contract without penalties | |||||
| 15h.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding early termination fees | |||||
| 15i.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding automatic contract extensions | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15j.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding individuals authorized to manage the account | |||||
| 15k.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding payment options | |||||
| 15l.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding late payment and service termination policies | |||||
| 15m.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding customer dispute resolution procedures | |||||
| 15n.
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Disclosure at the point-of-sale regarding customer privacy policy | |||||
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16.
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Service contract or agreement terms and conditions: For each of the following terms and conditions of service, please indicate if the state utility commission has rules for both landline and wireless phone service, only landline service, only wireless service, or no rules for either. |
| (Select one for each row.) |
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16a.
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Recurring charges, taxes, surcharges and fees | |||||
| 16b.
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Ancillary services charges | |||||
| 16c.
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Length of trial period | |||||
| 16d.
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Right of rescission (i.e. right for a consumer to cancel a contract within a specified time period without penalty) | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16e.
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Equipment return refunds | |||||
| 16f.
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Liability for service charges due to lost or stolen equipment | |||||
| 16g.
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Liability for service charges during pending billing disputes | |||||
| 16h.
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Early termination fees | |||||
| 16i.
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Automatic contract extensions | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16j.
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Advance notice of amended terms and conditions | |||||
| 16k.
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Termination for material adverse changes in terms and conditions | |||||
| 16l.
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Mandatory arbitration clauses | |||||
| 16m.
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Prohibition of class action lawsuits | |||||
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17. |
Billing practices: For each of the following terms and conditions of service, please indicate if the state utility commission has rules for both landline and wireless phone service, only landline service, only wireless service, or no rules for either. |
| (Select one for each row.) |
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17a.
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Charges for unauthorized text messaging services and other services and goods | |||||
| 17b.
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Charges for services and goods from nonaffiliated companies | |||||
| 17c.
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Charges for directory assistance, long-distance, international, and roaming services | |||||
| 17d.
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Charges for dropped or incomplete calls | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17e.
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Monthly bills required unless otherwise agreed | |||||
| 17f.
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Time limit for billing service charges to customers | |||||
| 17g.
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Itemization of charges on bills | |||||
| 17h.
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Penalty for late payment of bills | |||||
| 17i.
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Font size and type on billing statements | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17j.
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Text on billing statements in languages other than English | |||||
| 17k.
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Itemized charges for roaming services | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17l.
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Itemized charges for federal, state, and local taxes, surcharges, and fees | |||||
| 17m.
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Separately identified carrier cost recovery fees | |||||
| 17n.
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Identification of carrier's Web site/e-mail and toll-free telephone number for billing inquiries and service quality complaints | |||||
| 17o.
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Identification of state utility commission's Web site/ e-mail and toll-free telephone number for billing disputes and service quality complaints | |||||
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18.
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Quality of service: For each of the following terms and conditions of service, please indicate if the state utility commission has rules for both landline and wireless phone service, only landline service, only wireless service, or no rules for either. |
| (Select one for each row.) |
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18a.
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State do-not-call lists | |||||
| 18b.
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Customer service support in languages other than English | |||||
| 18c.
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Customer service support for customers with disabilities (such as TTY for the hearing impaired) | |||||
| 18d.
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Customer dispute resolution procedures | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18e.
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Use of customer proprietary network information for marketing purposes | |||||
| 18f.
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Emergency communications and natural disaster plans | |||||
| 18g.
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Network outage reports | |||||
| 18h.
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Network build-out | |||||
| Both landline and wireless | Landline only | Wireless only | No rules for either | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18i.
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Periodic reporting of service area coverage | |||||
| 18j.
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Periodic reporting of average outdoor signal strength | |||||
| 18k.
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Periodic reporting of known service coverage gaps | |||||
| 18l.
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Periodic reporting of information about dropped and/or blocked calls | |||||
| 18m.
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Periodic reporting of the nature of customer complaints | |||||
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19.
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Has the state utility commission recently proposed (but not yet adopted) additional wireless service regulations, or is the state commission currently considering promulgating additional wireless service regulations? | ||
| (Select one.) | |||
| 1. | |||
| 2. | (GO TO SECTION: Enforcement) | ||
| 3. | (GO TO SECTION: Enforcement) | ||
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20.
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In which areas is the commission considering promulgating rules? |
| (Select one for each row.) |
| Yes | No | No response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20a.
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Advertising disclosures | |||
| 20b.
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Disclosure of terms and conditions at the point-of-sale | |||
| 20c.
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Contract terms and conditions | |||
| 20d.
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Billing practices (other than rate regulation) | |||
| 20e.
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Quality of service | |||
| 20f.
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Other | |||
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If you answered "Other" above, please specify: |
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