The Republican argument that the competitive market offers protection only works if most of the companies don't do anything underhanded. Isn't that the point of the bill, to make sure that none of them try anything shady? As long as they don't go overboard with the bill and make it hard for the companies to conduct business, cause then they would all just consolidate into a couple companies that all suck.

@yardameus:

Agreed. I'm all for the government making sure that things are, on a basic level, fair. Once it's essentially a level playing field (if that's possible), then I say let the market decide.

All good things, but I'd prefer Congress spending a little more time protecting the first Bill of Rights.

Sounds good, the mobile industry definitely needs to be regulated. Now if the bill will include mandatory unlocking for customers who request it, then we'll be on to something.

In my mind, there'd be nothing wrong with congress following a more 'christian' approach. #1 EVERYbody is your neighbor #2 don't the 10 commandments say something about not impaling your neighbor in his donkey? or something like that? see? that takes care of this mobile phone business once and for all. no more donkey pounding will be acceptable!!

jk, jk, fgsijk.

I don't think it's right for the government to prevent the carriers from doing whatever they like. If they want to charge consumers ridiculous fees and then say they are government taxes, then by god that should be their right!

What's sad is that the government feels it needs to take action on this. Why can't the phone companies treat their customers better? I feel the same about the airline passenger bill of rights. It's just as silly. Congress shouldn't need to get involved.

I don't think this is the government's business, other than the part about the carrier's claiming their fees are actually taxes when they aren't. Everything else should be up to the carriers -- they should just quit being evil on their own accord in order to allow their customers to like them for a change.

There could be a few changes and I wished the Telcoms would just treat their customers like they give a damn.

All you objectivism idealist need to come down off your ivory towers and realize free market doesn't always work out of the common good. If one company does something underhanded they all will. Government has to act to protect us, otherwise whats the point of government.

I realize we're all gadget consumers here, but... I can't believe with all the proven historical scandals in the 20th century about ham-handed attempts by government to interfere in markets people still think government can "protect" the consumer in any effective way. I like how French law is going to protect many potential IPhone customers from being able to actually buy the things. Yeah, I jailbreaked my IPhone, I fileshare, but I don't pretend to have some moral right to so. I like how some of y'all flagrantly criticize the law when convenient and then call for greater intervention opportunistically. I'd rather just use good ol' consumer pressure, TYVM.

No, congress shouldn't -need- to get involved, but it should seem pretty obvious that there reaches a point when somebody has to take a stand against large corporations.

And considering most consumers just like to complain and never actually try and take the steps to enact change, the task gets left to the government. Don't like the government getting involved? Be more proactive in campaigning against Big Business. Too lazy to do that? Then don't complain when the government steps in.

And besides, there is good precedent for government involvement in private sectors that border close to "public utility" status. For example, our economy is reliant on air travel, hence all the government regulations on air travel. As land lines become less used, cell service could enter that realm of "economically critical", and having a little government regulation in that case would not be a bad thing.

But notice I said "a little"... it's always a balance.

Like the Force. Yeah.

Umm how about not charging for incoming calls, like in Europe and Japan? Somehow the cell companies are still profitable over there. How about selling unlocked phones to whoever wants them? (like in Europe and Japan). These will never happen but it's good to dream.