KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND
NEWVORK
seNATOR
RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
SUITE 418
WASHINGTON, DC 2ot11G-3205
202-U4-44l\1
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WASHINGTON. DC 20510-3205
September 30, 2010
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Mr. Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski,
I write to request that that the Federal Communications Commission work with cellular
service providers to put an end to international roaming charges faced by residents along the New
York-Canadian border. For too long, New York residents along the Canadian border have
experienced roaming charges because their cell signal bounces to Canadian towers that have higher
signal strength. Although most cellular service providers remove these charges upon the customer's
request, this situation presents an unfair burden to New York border residents and can sometimes
result in remaining charges.
Cell phone users along the border frequently experience roaming to Canadian cell towers,
particularly in more rural areas like New York's North Country region where cell signal strength may
be weak because of fewer towers in more sparsely populated communities. When customers dispute
these charges with cell service providers, they can often spend hours exp1aining to the company that
the roaming charges, which can sometimes add up to over $1,000 in a given month, are a result of
bouncing to Canadian towers and not actual international phone calls. This is a major
inconvenience brought about by no fault of the customer. Since cellular companies have the ability
to track a customer's typical tower and position to that tower, any undue roaming charges should be
automatically dealt with by the service provider and not require a user's explanation.
I look forward to working with you and your staff on this critical situation. I request that
you update my office on the status of all available options, the steps needed to move this forward,
and how I can assist. Please follow up withJon Cardinal in my Washington, DC office, 202-224 
7074, with additional information.
Sincerely,
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
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