Consumer groups are joining with state attorneys general to mount a nationwide campaign against preemption language in the Senate telecom bill, the groups said Fri. at a National Assn. of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) briefing. The federal preemption provisions would prevent states from passing or enforcing laws setting up a way to resolve complaints against carriers. 揥e抮e working on a letter to members of Congress expressing our view that we do not agree that preemption is necessary,?said William Brauch, Ia. special asst. attorney gen. The letter is expected to be bipartisan and circulated to members of Congress in a week, Brauch said. As written, preemption provisions take away one of the 3 tools states have to protect consumer rights -- state laws, Brauch said. States can sue to resolve specific problems, but legislation is needed to set standards of conduct, he said.nnThe preemption provision is a 搈eat ax approach instead of a scalpel approach to legislation,?said Philip Jones, comr.- Washington Utilities & Transportation Committee and NARUC official: It 搕ies our hands in the future... in a very broad way.?The wireless industry is the top consumer-complaint magnet nationwide, said Debra Berlyn, AARP senior legislative representative, citing research from the Better Business Bureau. But the telecom bill would strip away states' ability to deal with complaints, which usually involve problems such as billing, poor customer service and misrepresentation of products and services. Instead, consumers would be forced to take their problems to the FCC, which is ill-equipped to handle them, Berlyn said. An AARP survey, for example, showed that only 7% of people even know to go to the FCC?with a complaint, Berlyn said.
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