Bill Shock
Every year, millions of Americans are forced to pay higher phone bills as the result of a practice known as “bill shock.” “Bill shock” occurs when cell phone customers unexpectedly receive phone bills that are significantly higher than their typical monthly bill. A May 2011 survey by Consumer Reports found that one in five Americans had experienced bill shock. Because of the especially high rate of cell phone usage among African-Americans and Latinos, these communities are especially hard hit by this practice.
It can be difficult for consumers to know when they’re running up a surprisingly high wireless bill. Several major wireless providers have committed to sending customers alerts when they are about to exceed monthly limits on voice, texting and data or if they are going to begin incurring international roaming fees.
Click here for more information on wireless usage alerts.
Civil rights organizations are teaming up with media rights groups to make sure that our communities are protected – by holding industry accountable to the voluntary agreement to curb bill shock and giving our constituents a powerful voice when violations are detected.
BILL SHOCK: FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOWFCC News on Bill ShockRelated NewsThe NAACP Commemorates the Top 100 Films of the CenturyApril 9, 2009 - Posted by The Leadership Conference  In honor of its 100th anniversary, the NAACP has teamed up with Blockbuster to identify the top 100 movies for and about African Americans that have had a significant impact on American society and culture. The NAACP has nominated nearly 1,000 movies that were released during the 100 years since the organization was founded, such as "Roots," "Foxy Brown," "Boyz 'N The Hood," and "Brown Sugar." From now until April 27, you can help the NAACP select the top 100 films by rating films on the NAACP Top 100 website. The films are displayed on a timeline alongside key events in civil rights and NAACP history. The site also provides a summary of the film, cast and director information, and the movie's trailer to help you decide. The final list will be announced in June. Ethnic Media Outlets Are ThrivingApril 7, 2009 - Posted by The Leadership Conference Today, NPR ran a piece about the success of ethnic media outlets - radio, newspaper and television companies that cater to a specific ethnic or racial minority - despite the fact that many mainstrem media outlets are folding. Ethnic media organizations are doing well despite the recession because they have tapped into a growing audience, second- and third-generation immigrants, and are adapting to meet the needs of their growing audiences, like the ability to get news on social networking sites. Congress Now on YouTubeJanuary 14, 2009 - Posted by The Leadership Conference This week Congress launched the official congressional YouTube channels, where members will each have their own YouTube page to post videos of speeches, news clips, or messages to constituents. |
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