Senate Passes Bill to End ‘Slamming’

The U.S. Senate, on a 99-0 vote, passed legislation that would require a telephone company to get oral or written verification from consumers before switching their long-distance service. It would also mandate that the Federal Communications Commission speed up procedures for resolving complaints about the practice of switching consumers’ carriers without their permission, or “slamming.” Unless the FCC finds mitigating circumstances, violators of verification procedures would face fines of at least $40,000 for first offenses and at least $150,000 for each subsequent offense. Phone companies would have 15 days to inform consumers of a change of service and would have to explain how to file a complaint with the FCC if the consumer believes there has been an illegal switch. Complaints to the FCC about slamming have mushroomed in recent years. An amendment to the bill would require senders of junk e-mail to identify themselves and to stop sending messages to those who request it. The bill must still be considered by the House.