FCC Chairman Kevin Martin touched on a wide array of telecommunications topics during his talk at CES yesterday, he also promised that the FCC would decide this year whether to regulate early termination fees (ETFs). While noting that some state legislatures have mulled regulation of ETFs, Martin said, "We need to look at whether it's something that can be regulated at the state level or if it should be done at the interstate, or federal level." Some legislatures have questioned whether the ETFs are properly disclosed to prospective subscribers.

In November, Verizon Wireless scaled back its ETFs by deducting $5 per month from the original $175 ETF, toward the two-year contract's fulfillment. Of course, the new rule only applies to new contracts or renewals that took place after November 15, 2006. 

For more:
- read this Denver Post article