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States will jointly fight '900' phone fraud

Article Abstract:

The attorneys general of 46 states plan to work with each other and with long-distance carriers MCI Communications Corp, Sprint Corp and AT&T to halt the fraud and deception associated with pay-per-call '900' telephone numbers. A call to a '900' number automatically generates a charge on the caller's monthly telephone bill. Most '900' numbers are legitimate services, but thousands of customers have complained that they did not receive the merchandise advertised, or that they did not understand the charges. '900' operators are required by contract to alert callers to all the terms and costs of their services. Under the terms of the agreement, states will present evidence of fraudulent activity to the long-distance carriers. The carriers will in turn investigate the allegations and cut off service to companies found to be violating the terms of their contracts.

Telephone communications, exc. radio, Fraud, State government, Legal Issues, Cooperation, Hidden Costs, Audiotex, Audiotext services, Pay-per-call services, Pay per call services

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Airwaves auction bill advances; panel backs sales of phone channels

Article Abstract:

The House Energy and Commerce Committee passes a bill that allows the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to auction licenses for radio frequencies and turn the proceeds over to the Treasury Department. Under the provisions of the bill, the FCC is required to begin selling the licenses within nine months after the bill's enactment. The bill would affect personal communications services licenses that would cover a variety of technologies including wristwatch telephones, palm-top computers and electronic notebooks. It would also require the government to allocate big blocks of frequencies now used by federal agencies to be used by new commercial technologies. Revenues from the licenses are expected to be worth billions of dollars.

Regulation, admin. of utilities, Radio broadcasting, Frequency allocation (Telecommunications), United States. Federal Communications Commission, Licensing agreements, Radio frequency allocation, Legislative process, Government Agency, Licensing, Legislation, Radio Frequency

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