Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who serves as the chairman of the House telecommunications and Internet subcommittee, has introduced a new bill that aims to force carriers to offer consumers "the opportunity to purchase subsidy-free wireless customer equipment." The Wireless Consumer Protection and Community Broadband Empowerment Act instructs carriers to disclose rate plans in a "clear, plain and conspicuous manner" by breaking out ETFs as well as state and local taxes.
The most controversial language in the bill instructs carriers to offer customers the choice of buying handsets with no subsidies as well as the option of signing up for rate plans that are priced comparable to longterm plans but don't require the customer to ink a longterm contract with the carrier.
For more on the bill:
- read this article from CNET