AT&T will raise its early termination fee to $325 from $175 June 1 on new contracts and nrenewals for smartphones and cellular-connected netbooks, a spokesman said. But for ncontracts on feature and messaging phones, AT&T will reduce the fee $25, to $150, he nsaid. The changes have caught the skeptical attention of FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, na commission aide said. And Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., called them “an excessive strike nagainst competition and consumers.” It's time for Congress and the FCC to act to ensure ncompetition and consumer protection in the cellphone market, she said. “AT&T is forcing its ncustomers to pay a price to get their freedom, and that’s not right,” Klobuchar said. “Too often nconsumers find out after committing to a multiyear contract that their wireless service doesn’t nmeet their needs, and changing your wireless provider shouldn’t break the bank. Once again nwireless providers have shown that they would rather use arbitrary fees than network and nservice quality to keep customers."
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