RESOLUTION NO. RS2003-61

A resolution requesting the Federal Communications Commission, the President of the United States George W. Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, the United States Senate, Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert, the United States House of Representatives, and the Tennessee Congressional Delegation to examine the feasibility of requiring all wireless telecommunication providers to charge customers only for the amount of time per call actually used and allow customers to carryover unused minutes.

WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is charged with the regulation of communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable; and

WHEREAS, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is the division of the FCC that oversees cellular and PCS phone regulation; and

WHEREAS, certain wireless telephone providers within the area of the Metropolitan Government only charge customers for the actual amount of service time used by the customer and allow customers to “rollover” any unused minutes remaining each month as part of the customer’s service plan; and

WHEREAS, certain other wireless telephone providers within the area of the Metropolitan Government round up the time of each call to the next minute and do not allow customers to “rollover” unused minutes as part of their plan; and

WHEREAS, over the past decade, wireless telephone usage has become an essential means of communication and, according to the Yankee Group, a Boston-based technology research group, wireless use is expected to increase to 41 percent of all conversation minutes; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the citizens of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County that wireless telecommunication providers charge customers only for the amount of time actually used and allow customers to carryover unused minutes.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Federal Communications Commission, the President of the United States George W. Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, the United States Senate, Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert, the United States House of Representatives, and the Tennessee Congressional Delegation to examine the feasibility of requiring all wireless telecommunication providers to charge customers only for the amount of time per call actually used and allow customers to carryover unused minutes.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to Michael K. Powell, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20554, to President George W. Bush, to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, to Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert, and to each member of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation.

Section 3. That this resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Ludye N. Wallace