Congress rips into carriers' practices

The Senate Commerce committee yesterday held a hearing about consumer wireless issues where Democrats complained about dropped calls, censorship and deceptive bills, while calling for stronger regulation of the industry. Republicans maintained that a lighter regulatory touch would prove more effective. Democrats complained about ETFs, misleading coverage maps and Verizon's recent rejection of a pro-choice group's mobile marketing campaign. The carrier quickly reversed its decision.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, a Democrat from North Dakota, even called for net neutrality laws citing locked phones and limited software availability as evidence of a need for more regulation. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a Democrat from West Virginia, claimed that "in the last few years, traditional and wireless carriers have concocted a number of line item charges, fees and surcharges."

For more on the hearing:
- read this write-up from eWeek