FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Ben Ray Lujan 
U.S. House of Representatives 
2446 Rayburn House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Lujan: 
May 1, 2014 
Thank you for your letter regarding the use of below-the-line fees on wireless and 
wireline customer bills. Providing consumers with the information and tools they need to 
understand and control the costs associated with their telecommunications services is an issue 
that the Commission and I take seriously. 
The Commission has twice adopted rules concerning Truth-in-Billing issues. Combined, 
these rules require customer bills to: (1) be clearly organized, clearly identify the service 
provider, and highlight any new providers; (2) contain full and non-misleading descriptions of 
charges that appear in the bill; and (3) contain clear and conspicuous disclosure of any 
information the consumer may need to make inquiries about, or to contest charges on the bill. 
As you noted in your letter, in October 2011, the Commission coordinated a voluntary 
agreement under which the large US wireless service providers send free, automated usage-based 
alerts that allow subscribers to better monitor and manage the use oftheir devices and avoid 
unexpected charges, known as bill shock, both at home and abroad. On April17, 2013, the 
Commission announced that 97% of all wireless consumers across the country are thus protected 
from bill shock. I have also asked staff to reassess the record from a 2009 Notice of Inquiry on 
consumer billing issues and evaluate the current state of consumer complaints and comments on 
below-the-line fees. 
At this time, all options are on the table on next steps, which range from expanding 
consumer education efforts to refreshing the record and opening a new proceeding. I look 
forward to working with you and keeping you informed of the Commission's actions on this 
iSSUe. 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHA I RMAN 
The Honorable Mike Doyle 
U.S. House ofRepresentatives 
239 Cannon House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Doyle: 
May 1, 2014 
Thank you for your letter regarding the use of below-the-line fees on wireless and 
wireline customer bills. Providing consumers with the information and tools they need to 
understand and control the costs associated with their telecommunications services is an issue 
that the Commission and I take seriously. 
The Commission has twice adopted rules concerning Truth-in-Billing issues. Combined, 
these rules require customer bills to: (1) be clearly organized, clearly identify the service 
provider, and highlight any new providers; (2) contain full and non-misleading descriptions of 
charges that appear in the bill; and (3) contain clear and conspicuous disclosure of any 
information the consumer may need to make inquiries about, or to contest charges on the bill. 
As you noted in your letter, in October 2011, the Commission coordinated a voluntary 
agreement under which the large US wireless service providers send free, automated usage-based 
alerts that allow subscribers to better monitor and manage the use of their devices and avoid 
unexpected charges, known as bill shock, both at home and abroad. On April 17, 2013, the 
Commission announced that 97% of all wireless consumers across the country are thus protected 
from bill shock. I have also asked staff to reassess the record from a 2009 Notice of Inquiry on 
consumer billing issues and evaluate the current state of consumer complaints and comments on 
below-the-line fees. 
At this time, all options are on the table on next steps, which range from expanding 
consumer education efforts to refreshing the record and opening a new proceeding. I look 
forward to working with you and keeping you informed of the Commission's actions on this 
issue. 
F E D E RA L COMMUN ICAT IONS C OMMISSION 
WASH ING T ON 
OFFICE OF 
THE C H A I RM A N 
The Honorable Anna Eshoo 
Ranking Member 
May 1, 2014 
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
U.S. House ofRepresentatives 
2125 Rayburn House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congresswoman Eshoo: 
Thank you for your letter regarding the use of below-the-line fees on wireless and 
wireline customer bills. Providing consumers with the information and tools they need to 
understand and control the costs associated with their telecommunications services is an issue 
that the Commission and I take seriously. 
The Commission has twice adopted rules concerning Truth-in-Billing issues. Combined, 
these rules require customer bills to: (1) be clearly organized, clearly identify the service 
provider, and highlight any new providers; (2) contain full and non-misleading descriptions of 
charges that appear in the bill; and (3) contain clear and conspicuous disclosure of any 
information the consumer may need to make inquiries about, or to contest charges on the bill. 
As you noted in your letter, in October 2011, the Commission coordinated a voluntary 
agreement under which the large US wireless service providers send free, automated usage-based 
alerts that allow subscribers to better monitor and manage the use of their devices and avoid 
unexpected charges, known as bill shock, both at home and abroad. On April 17, 2013, the 
Commission announced that 97% of all wireless consumers across the country are thus protected 
from bill shock. I have also asked staff to reassess the record from a 2009 Notice of Inquiry on 
consumer billing issues and evaluate the current state of consumer complaints and comments on 
below-the-line fees. 
At this time, all options are on the table on next steps, which range from expanding 
consumer education efforts to refreshing the record and opening a new proceeding. I look 
forward to working with you and keeping you informed of the Commission's actions on this 
lSSUe. 
~s;Uti-
Tom Wheeler