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 Federal  Communications  Commission  FCC  04-  214 
 STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  JONANTHAN  S.  ADELSTEIN  AND 
 COMMISSIONER  MICHAEL  J.  COPPS 
 Re:  In  the  Matter  of  Implementation  of  the  Subscriber  Carrier  Selection  Changes  Provisions  of  the  Telecommunications  Act  of  1996,  Policies  and  Rules 
 Concerning  Unauthorized  Changes  of  Consumers’  Long  Distance  Carriers  (CC  Docket  No.  94-  129) 


 In  the  Telecommunications  Act,  Congress  recognized  the  importance  of  protecting  consumers  from  unscrupulous  practices  like  slamming.  Congress  specifically  charged  the 
 Commission  with  putting  in  place  rules  that  prevent  unauthorized  carrier  changes.  We  support  today’s  decision  because  we  believe  it  is  consistent  with  the  letter  and  spirit  of  this  directive. 


 We  nonetheless  recognize  that  our  slamming  prevention  rules,  and  in  particular  our  third-party  verification  requirements,  may  pose  a  burden  on  smaller  service  providers.  But  evidence 
 describing  the  extent  of  this  burden  was  limited  in  the  instant  proceeding.  Without  a  more  substantial  record,  we  cannot  support  granting  the  waiver  of  such  an  important  consumer 
 protection  requirement.  Still,  we  remain  willing—  and  believe  we  have  an  obligation—  to  consider  less  costly  ways  for  providers  to  comply  with  our  slamming  rules,  provided  they 
 adequately  protect  consumers  from  unauthorized  carrier  changes. 
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