Consumers are getting help to avoid bill shock thanks to last year’s agreement by the major U.S. wireless service providers to a change in the voluntary Consumer Code for Wireless Service sponsored by the industry trade group CTIA – The Wireless Association.
More than 97 percent of wireless customers across the country will be protected from bill shock when this plan is fully implemented. The participating carriers have each committed to sending a series of free usage alerts to their subscribers with wireless plans that impose additional charges for exceeding limits on voice, data or text usage, and to those consumers without an international roaming plan/package who may incur charges when using their wireless devices while travelling abroad. These alerts, which apply to currently-offered and future domestic voice, data and messaging plans as of October 17, 2011, the date of the Code’s revision, will allow subscribers to better monitor and manage the use of their devices and avoid unexpected charges. All alerts must be provided automatically and without charge. Subscribers do not need to take any action to receive the alerts.
The carriers have committed to providing alerts to subscribers when they approach and when they exceed plan allowances and will incur overage charges for voice, data and messaging. Alerts will also be sent to consumers without an international roaming plan/package whose devices have registered abroad and who may incur international roaming charges. The carriers currently must provide at least two of these four types of alerts. By April 17, 2013, they must provide all four.
The following table tracks the carriers’ progress in providing the alerts, according to the latest information supplied by CTIA. Where a carrier does not offer a particular type of service or offers only the service on an unlimited basis for plans offered on or after the October 17, 2011 revision of the Code, making the sending of usage alerts unnecessary, the table indicates “N/A” for the service in question. Where a carrier does not yet provide the type of alert as required by the Code but must do so by April 17, 2013, the table indicates “*” for the service in question.
| Carrier | Voice | Data | SMS/Text | Int'l Roaming | Additional Alerts Provided | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alltel | Yes | Yes | Yes | * | ||
| AT&T | * | Yes | N/A | Yes | ||
| Cellcom | Yes | Yes | Yes | * | ||
| Cellular One of NE Arizona | Yes | Yes | Yes | * | ||
| Clearwire | N/A | Yes | N/A | N/A | ||
| Plateau | Yes | Yes | * | * | ||
| SouthernLINC Wireless | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | ||
| Sprint | * | Yes | * | Yes | ||
| T-Mobile USA | * | Yes | N/A | Yes | For voice usage, but only to Even More Plus plan subscribers. More | |
| US Cellular | * | Yes | * | Yes | For voice and text usage automatically for majority of subscribers, and on request for remaining subscribers. More | |
| Verizon Wireless | Yes | Yes | Yes | * | International alerts for data service in all countries, and voice and SMS/text service in all countries except Canada. More | |
N/A = Carrier does not offer the service or offers it only on an unlimited basis on all domestic plans offered as of or after October 17, 2011, making the sending of usage alerts unnecessary. * = Carrier does not provide the alert but must do so by April 17, 2013. |
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Last Updated: October 23, 2012
The information in the table, reported to the FCC by CTIA:
- Indicates each carrier’s provision of the particular type of alert;
- Links to the relevant details available on the carrier’s website; and
- Will be updated, as CTIA provides the Commission revised carrier information.
Subscribe to table updates: For individuals or organizations interested tracking the carrier progress on their own sites or blogs, or via personal RSS readers, we are providing an RSS feed and JSON code. Updates to the table on the FCC website will automatically display wherever the feed or code is placed. RSS Feed, JSON.
Consumer Information and Complaints
Additional information about the CTIA Consumer Code for Wireless Service is available at CTIA.org.
If you have tried to resolve a billing issue with your carrier and cannot reach an acceptable resolution, you may complain to the FCC. You can call our Consumer Center, toll-free, at 1-888-CALL FCC (1-888-225-5322) (voice) or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) (TTY), or file a complaint online.
