A newly-enpanled Federal Communications Commission wasted no time in getting busy on a bevy of important consumer issues at its first meeting on Thursday.
The commision voted unanimously to launch an inquiry into "whether there are additional opportunities to protect and empower American consumers by ensuring sufficient access to relevant information about communications services," a move which could ultimately lead to new regulations on such consumer-unfriendly practices as early termination fees and exclusive deals between service providers and cell phone makers.
The five-member commission also voted unanimously to begin an analysis of competitive conditions in the mobile wireless market, a move the panel says "seeks to better understand the net effects on the American consumer." In addition, the commission voted to launch a study to identify concrete steps it can take to support and encourage further innovation and investment in the wireless marketplace.
You can read more about these new initiatives at the Consumer Reports electronics blog.
You also read what the FCC says about it all by going to the agency's website.