Boucher Proposing To Preempt State Consumer Protections On Wireless Service

Hopes to introduce bill establishing standards later this year

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/27/2010 12:52:04 PM

House Communications & Internet Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (D-Va.) said Wednesday (Jan. 27) he hopes later this year to introduce a bill establishing a set of national consumer protection standards for wireless service--including Internet service--that would preempt state regulation.

He told an audience at the Congressional Internet Caucus State of the Net conference in Washington Wednesday that the wireless industry was the "poster child" for a national set of standards that would in turn provide protections for Internet users.

He pointed out that a cell phone or PDA user could be living in one state, work in another and carry on most of his use while on the road. "So, for millions of users I think it is very hard to determine which state has the greatest relevance in establishing consumer protection rights for that user."

He said he had consulted with industry, as well as the FCC and state authorities. "We hope to have legislation ready for circulation in the not-to-distant future," he said.