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Consumer Topics

Bill Shock

Bill shock is a sudden and unexpected increase in a mobile wireless user's monthly bill that is not caused by a change in service plans. Bill shock occurs for a number of reasons, including unclear or misunderstood advertising and unanticipated roaming or data charges.

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Complaints

The Federal Communications Commission regularly receives complaints from consumers on a wide variety of issues. Consumers are encouraged to always try to resolve the problem first with the company whose products, services or billing are at issue.

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Fraud

Cellular fraud, or cell fraud, is the unauthorized use, tampering or manipulation of a cellular phone or service. Currently, the primary type of cell fraud is subscriber fraud. The cellular industry estimates that carriers lose more than $150 million per year due to subscriber fraud.

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Phone Bills

The FCC's Truth-in-Billing rules require telephone companies to provide clear, non-misleading, plain language in describing services for which customers are being billed. The company sending the bill must identify the service provider associated with each charge.

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Slamming

“Slamming" is the illegal practice of switching a consumer's traditional wireline telephone company for local, local toll, or long distance service without permission. The slamming rules also prohibit unreasonable delays in the execution of an authorized switch by your local telephone company.

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Accessibility

The FCC is committed to ensuring that telecommunications are accessible to individuals with disabilities. To meet this commitment, the FCC takes guidance from the Access Board, an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities.

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Education

Educators, parents and students meet major challenges in education through the use of broadband technology. Broadband lets teachers expand instruction beyond the confines of the physical classroom and the traditional school day.

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Native Nations

Many residents of Tribal lands and native communities lack affordable access to modern communications tools and networks, and risk being left behind as these technologies quickly develop. The FCC is addressing this gap through regulatory action, consumer information and community outreach.

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Rural Access

Rural and small-town Americans require access to 21st century communications tools and technologies to stay plugged in and competitive in the global economy. Bringing the benefits of mobile broadband to rural America is one the FCC’s top priorities.

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Small Business

The FCC aims to craft rules and guidelines that enable small businesses and the spirit of entreprenuership to blossom. Much of the FCC’s mission directly impacts the small business community.

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Universal Service

The Universal Service Fund program -- or USF-- has helped connect virtually every American to our 20th century communications grid, first bringing basic telephone service to places where there was no economic case for service, and then extending the benefits of mobile phone service to rural and underserved areas. The FCC is pursuing initiatives that will modernize and streamline the Universal Service Fund program, preparing it for 21st century telecommunications and technologies.

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Distracted Driving

Mobile communication devices are linked to a significant increase in distracted driving, resulting in injury and loss of life. To stem this problem, the FCC is working with industry, safety organizations, and other government agencies to inform and educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving.

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Online Privacy

Online privacy is a growing concern for consumers as more day-to-day transactions take place electronically. The FCC urges consumers to take basic steps to protect themselves and their private information online.

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Online Safety

The FCC is committed to helping children keep safe when they are online, in and outside of the home. As a partner in OnGuard Online, a federal agency partnership maintained by the Federal Trade Commission, the FCC provides practical information about discusing online safety with children and teenagers, including social networking, cyberbullying, using mobile phones safely and protecting the family computer.

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9-1-1 & E9-1-1

9-1-1 is the telephone number used nationwide for callers to report emergencies. Dialing 9-1-1 for non-emergency calls is against the law. 9-1-1 service is a vital part of the nation's emergency response and disaster preparedness system.

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Distracted Driving

Mobile communication devices are linked to a significant increase in distracted driving, resulting in injury and loss of life. To stem this problem, the FCC is working with industry, safety organizations, and other government agencies to inform and educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving.

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Education

Educators, parents and students meet major challenges in education through the use of broadband technology. Broadband lets teachers expand instruction beyond the confines of the physical classroom and the traditional school day.

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Indecency & Obscenity

Congress gives the FCC responsibility for administratively enforcing laws prohibiting the airing of obscene programming at any time and the airing of indecent programming or profane language during certain hours. In response to a complaint, the FCC may revoke a station license, impose a monetary forfeiture or issue a warning if a station airs obscene, indecent or profane material.

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Obesity

Children spend as much as four and a half hours each day watching television and are influenced by the programming and advertising they see. In 2010, one out of every three American children was obese or overweight.

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Online Privacy

Online privacy is a growing concern for consumers as more day-to-day transactions take place electronically. The FCC urges consumers to take basic steps to protect themselves and their private information online.

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Online Safety

The FCC is committed to helping children keep safe when they are online, in and outside of the home. As a partner in OnGuard Online, a federal agency partnership maintained by the Federal Trade Commission, the FCC provides practical information about discusing online safety with children and teenagers, including social networking, cyberbullying, using mobile phones safely and protecting the family computer.

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Parents

The FCC is a leader in encouraging the safe use of electronic media by children. From televisions to laptops to cell phones, electronic media have become our children's almost constant companions.

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Texting

Text message services let you send short messages between communications devices, including mobile and Internet devices. You have the right to stop unwanted text messages, demand transparency in billing, and maintain two-way communications via text messages during emergencies.

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V-Chip

The V-chip allows you to block television programming you consider inappropriate for younger viewers. Television programming ratings, encoded in most TV signals, can help you decide which content rating levels your v-chip should block.

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Broadband

Broadband technology enables transmission of wide ranging information contributing to safety, health and economic well-being. Broadband is a platform for opportunity and innovation in health care, education, energy, job training, civic engagement, commercial transactions, government performance, public safety and other areas.

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Broadcast Television

The FCC licenses and regulates U.S. television broadcast stations. Stations are either full power or low power stations. Low power television stations, which include Class A and television translators, provide locally-oriented television service in small communities.

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Cable Television

Cable television is a video delivery service provided by a cable operator to subscribers via a coaxial or fiber optic cable. Other subscription video service distributors include direct broadcast satellite providers, home satellite dishes and local telephone companies.

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International Telecommunications

The FCC has responsibility to initiate and direct, in coordination with other U.S government agencies, the development of international telecommunications policies reflecting the commission’s priorities. Areas include promoting the vital interests of the American public in international commerce, national defense and foreign policy areas.

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Radio

The FCC administers and maintains licenses for AM, FM, LPFM, FM translator and FM booster radio stations. FM radio licenses are available for operators of full power commercial stations, as well as full and low power, noncommercial education stations.

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Satellite

Satellite technology provides telecommunications service throughout the nation and the world. Because satellites orbit far above the Earth, their footprint, or service area, covers nearly every part of the United States, providing instant, ubiquitous and reliable coverage.

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Telephone

The FCC aims to make telephone service available and accessible to all consumers. We offer information to aid in common consumer questions and services, including eliminating unwanted telephone communications; changing phone services; number portability; understanding consumer phone bills; and more.

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Wireless

Wireless communications services include cellular telephone, paging, personal communications services, public safety, and commercial and private radio services. Cultivating growth and encouraging innovation in the wireless arena is a key FCC goal.

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Complaints

The Federal Communications Commission regularly receives complaints from consumers on a wide variety of issues. Consumers are encouraged to always try to resolve the problem first with the company whose products, services or billing are at issue.

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Do-Not-Call

Congress passed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act in 1991 in response to consumer concerns about the growing number of unsolicited telephone marketing calls to their homes and the increasing use of automated and prerecorded messages. In response, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules requiring anyone making a solicitation call to your home to provide his or her name, the name of the person or entity on whose behalf the call is being made and a telephone number or address at which that person or entity can be contacted.

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Spam

Many consumers find unsolicited e-mail and text messages – also known as spam – annoying and costly. In 2003, Congress enacted the CAN-SPAM Act to curb spam.

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Telemarketing

The FCC sets rules for telemarketing calls and the use of automatic telephone dialing systems, commonly called “robocalls.” The rules apply to common carriers as well as other marketers.

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