WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to enact rules aimed at preventing phone companies from placing unauthorized third-party charges on their customers’ landline telephone bills.

“Today’s vote is a good thing and I am pleased that the FCC is working to address cramming. Our investigation last year found that millions of consumers, businesses, non-profits, and government agencies have been tricked into paying billions of dollars in mysterious third-party charges on their landline telephone bills.  But more can be done to ensure that consumers are protected from fraudulent charges on their phone bills.  Cramming cannot be allowed to migrate to other communications offerings, like wireless services.  I still believe legislation is needed to bring a halt to these fraudulent practices once and for all.”

Rockefeller led an investigation of the practice of cramming, or third party billing placed on phone bills, in 2011. More details about that can be found here. 

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