Commission Document

• Print
• Email

NEWS
Federal Communications Commission

News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

445 12th Street, S.W.

Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

Washington, D. C.  20554

TTY: 1-888-835-5322

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

April 19, 2012
Neil Grace, 202-418-0506
Email: neil.grace@fcc.gov  
*** CONSUMER ALERT ***

FCC LAUNCHES NEW ‘BILL SHOCK’ WEBSITE TO HELP 

CONSUMERS TRACK WIRELESS CARRIERS’

IMPLEMENTATION OF VOICE, DATA & TEXT USAGE ALERTS 

Easy-to-use website will track implementation of ‘bill shock’ commitments 

designed to alert wireless consumers of extra fees as they approach plan limits
Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission today launched a new ‘bill shock’ website 
(http://fcc.us/billshocks), an online tool to help consumers track implementation of recent commitments 
by wireless carriers to provide usage alerts before and after consumers exceed their plan limits.  Bill 
shock is a sudden and unexpected increase in monthly wireless bills that happens when consumers’ 
unknowingly exceeding plan limits for voice, data and text.  Bill shock can also happen when consumers 
travel abroad and get hit with unexpected international roaming charges.  A recent FCC survey found that 
30 million Americans – or one in six wireless users – have experienced bill shock.  
In October 2011, Chairman Julius Genachowski announced a new program that would provide free alerts 
for wireless consumers as they approach monthly voice, data and text limits, and after those limits have 
been exceeded.  Chairman Genachowski was joined by CTIA-The Wireless Association, which accounts 
service to approximately 97% of U.S. wireless consumers.  

FCC Chairman Genachowski said

, “Using technology to empower consumers with information has 
been among the top priorities of the Commission.  Last October, we were pleased that CTIA-The 
Wireless Association and Consumers Union joined us to announce new commitments to provide free 
alerts to consumers before they approach limits and incur fees.  We also promised an online resource with 
information about when carriers begin providing these alerts.  Today, we deliver on that promise.”
The new website is available at http://fcc.us/billshocks.  The Commission will regularly update the table
to reflect each carrier’s progress in providing the bill shock alerts, based on information provided by 
CTIA-The Wireless Association, and in partnership with Consumers Union.  
-FCC-

---