FCC Proposes Modernizing Slamming and Truth-in-Billing Rules

FCC Proposes Modernizing Slamming and Truth-in-Billing Rules

The Federal Communications Commission has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking to modernize and streamline rules governing slamming (unauthorized carrier changes) and Truth-in-Billing requirements. The FCC proposes consolidating these decades-old rules into a single regulatory framework while eliminating prescriptive requirements that may no longer be necessary due to marketplace evolution and the decline in traditional wireline services.

Proposed Changes

The FCC proposes replacing current detailed verification requirements with a streamlined rule requiring carriers to implement “procedures reasonably designed to obtain verification of the consent of the subscriber.” This would eliminate specific requirements for Letters of Agency, electronic authorization procedures, and third-party verification processes while maintaining essential consumer protections against unauthorized charges.

For Truth-in-Billing, the Commission proposes eliminating requirements for separate sections for third-party charges and specific contact information disclosures, while retaining requirements that bills be clearly organized and contain necessary customer inquiry information. The modernized rules would be consolidated into a single regulatory framework to reduce compliance complexity.

Comments are due 30 days after Federal Register publication, with reply comments due 60 days after publication.

For questions about how these proposed changes might affect your operations or to discuss potential comment filings, please contact Douglas Meredith or Brett Hallagan.