FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: News Media Contact: March 29, 2001 Jordan Goldstein, 202-418-2100 FCC COMMISSIONER SUSAN NESS CRITICIZES DECISION OF LONG- DISTANCE CARRIERS TO ASSESS HEFTY BILLING FEE ON CONSUMERS FCC Commissioner Susan Ness today stated, “I am dismayed that some long-distance carriers have begun to levy a substantial billing charge on consumers for having a combined local and long-distance bill. I am particularly troubled – as all consumers should be – by reports that some carriers did not notify consumers in advance so that consumers could have avoided these new charges. I urge the Commission, through its Enforcement Bureau, to investigate whether these line-item charges are consistent with our truth-in-billing rules, unreasonable, or unreasonably inflated.” - FCC - News media Information 202 / 418-0500 TTY 202 / 418-2555 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 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).