STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI
Re: Presentation on Wireless Carrier Usage Alerts to Prevent Bill Shock
One year ago today, I was pleased to join with CTIA – The Wireless Association – and Consumers 
Union to announce a solution to a problem that was costing millions of U.S. consumers hundreds, and 
sometimes thousands of dollars each, or more – bill shock.
This was a big step forward in the Commission’s Consumer Empowerment Agenda.  It harnessed the 
power of technology to empower consumers with information they can use to save money on their monthly 
mobile bills.   It empowered consumers to help make the market work.
Specifically, we announced that the wireless industry would provide consumers with timely alerts 
informing them when they were approaching and exceeding their plan’s limit for text, data, and voice, or 
when they were about to be billed extra for international roaming usage.  These alerts would be free and 
would be sent automatically by mobile companies to their customers, with no action necessary by 
consumers. 
Prior to this announcement, the Commission had formally proposed rules to tackle the bill shock 
problem.  In light of these steps on the part of the wireless industry,  we put our rulemaking on hold and said 
we would take a “trust, but verify” approach to ensuring that carriers take these steps to help eliminate bill 
shock, and that consumers are treated as they deserve.  
Today we can verify that carriers are living up to their commitments.  And U.S. wireless consumers 
now have more information and tools to avoid bill shock. 
Each of CTIA’s participating carriers is today providing consumers with at least two of the four 
required alerts, which are for text, data, voice, and international roaming fees.  
And we are on track for all carriers to provide all four of these alerts within six months, as they have 
pledged under this initiative. More than 97% of wireless customers across the country will be protected 
from bill shock when this plan is fully implemented.  
Fulfilling our commitment and responsibility to monitor this agreement, and to help better inform 
consumers, and to use technology and transparency to empower consumers, the Commission has posted on 
our website information about the carriers’ commitments and actions on our website.  Consumers Union 
will also be publishing this information. 
We will continue to work with CTIA towards the April 17, 2013 deadline of full compliance.
I appreciate the efforts of the mobile industry to help end consumer bill shock. We will continue to 
be vigilant in ensuring mobile consumers are protected and empowered.
Thank you to CGB for your work on this issue, and all the items on our Consumer Empowerment 
Agenda.  Between our efforts on bill shock, and our efforts to crack down on mystery fees and cramming, 
consumers can feel confident knowing that the FCC’s got their back.