Get Involved Guide: Phones & Cell Phones: Who's working for better phone service in your community?

Find which organized groups or policymakers are championing these issues in your community and ask how you can help them.

If you have a group ready to take on phone issues, or if you've got the personal commitment to get one started, this guide can help you develop a campaign. As you begin planning, you can reach out to other consumer advocates as allies and resources.

• Contact local organizations that are Consumer Federation of America members.  These nonprofit groups provide consumer advocacy, research and education.

• Find out who legally represents the people in your community: state consumer advocates for utilities, including Citizens Utility Boards, are designated by law to represent the interests of utility consumers before state and federal regulators and in the courts. Visit the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates to find your state consumer advocate. 

• State regulators are mandated to protect the public interest, they are also a place to go with complaints about Internet service over phone company service. Contact your state utility regulator or public utility commission.  NARUC, the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners, has a site where you can find who is protecting you in your state.

• AARP's state and local chapters are often involved in fighting for better telephone prices and service. If you're a concerned senior, click here to locate an AARP chapter near you.

• State Public Interest Research Organizations or "PIRGs" are advocates for consumer rights on issue including telephone service.  Click here to find the PIRG in your state.

• Beware: not all "consumer" groups are fighting on the same side. Make sure you know where a group stands on issues that are important to you before joining up. For information about industry-funded "consumer groups," see: "Disinfopedia: Astroturf" from the Center for Media and Democracy.