FCC Proposes Caller-Pays Wireless Rules

Federal regulators are proposing that consumers pay for calls they place to wireless telephones.

Currently, it is wireless phone owners who pay for incoming calls. The Federal Communications Commission will consider public comment on the proposal before making a decision by early next year.

Companies that could benefit from a new calling system include providers of billing systems and wireless service providers, analysts said.

It could be some time before calling-party-pays service becomes available, however, because phone carriers must upgrade their equipment and billing systems as well as negotiate how much they would pay one another for billing, said John Bensche, an analyst at Lehman Bros.

The FCC proposal would give wireless phone owners the option of having calling-party-pays or not.

The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Assn. is advocating a calling-party-pays system in which users could specify which incoming phone calls they would pay for, such as those from work, home or family members.

Separately, the FCC said it will consider requiring building owners to give telecom companies better access to their premises, which may make it easier for new carriers to compete against the incumbent phone companies. The FCC is seeking industry comment on the issue. The FCC also approved an order that will allow wireless phone company operators to file applications to the FCC’s Universal Licensing System over the Internet, and the public to view them.