BILL ANALYSIS
AB 610
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 610 (Calderon)
As Amended May 5, 2005
Majority vote
UTILITIES & COMMERCE 10-1
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|Ayes:|Levine, Baca, Blakeslee, | | |
| |Cohn, De La Torre, | | |
| |Jerome Horton, Keene, | | |
| |Montanez, Ridley-Thomas, | | |
| |Wyland | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Bogh | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires cellular telephone companies to provide
subscribers a means to obtain reasonably current information
about the Internet and text messaging usage and charges
associated with their service plan by January 1, 2006.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : According to the author, the purpose of this bill is
to prevent consumers from receiving unexpectedly high cellular
phone bills. The author notes that consumers can currently
access information regarding the amount of minutes used and
roaming charges, but not information on text messaging charges
or Internet usage.
Consumer need for information: Since 2002, the Legislature has
taken several steps to
ensure that wireless customers have reasonable access to their
current account information. This information allows consumers
to modify their usage on a monthly basis to avoid incurring
charges over the cost of their monthly service plan. SB 1903
(O'Connell), Chapter 286, Statutes of 2002, requires cellular
telephone companies to provide customers with a way to obtain
current information on their calling plans and usage. AB 1379
(Calderon), Chapter 333, Statutes of 2003, extends the
information available to subscribers to including roaming
charges in addition to minute usage. Neither of these bills
AB 610
Page 2
requires the provision of data service usage information as
proposed in this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Adam Hunt / U. & C. / (916) 319-2083
FN: 0010004