AARP Urges Seniors: Tell Senate To Pass CellPhone Rights Bill

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), one of the leading seniors advocacy groups, has started a lobbying drive to get legislation passed in Albany to give the many seniors who see cellphones as a safety tool important assistance in using the devices.

Standing opposite AARP is the powerful cellphone industry, which helped block passage of the bill in the state senate earlier this year after the Assembly passed it.

According to AARP New York State Director Lois Aronstein, the bill would provide that a cellphone user would be entitled to know exactly where a cellphone will or will not work; what fees and surcharges the user would have to pay, and exactly where 911 will work on a cellphone.

It would also give the right to cancel a contract 15 days after receiving the first bill without paying a cancellation fee, which could be as high as $250.

"While the New York State Assembly overwhelmingly passed the bill, the New York state senate failed to even consider the bill during this past session," Aronstein reported.

Aronstein said that a nationwide AARP survey found that people ages 18 to 64 are most likely to have a cellphone for convenience. But, in contrast, "People 65 and older cited security in an emergency as the most common reason for having a cellphone." she said.

In 1997, Aronstein said, a law was passed prohibiting the state from regulating the cellphone industry.

"At the time," Aronstein explained, "the legislature and governor considered cellphone service non-basic, with few consumer complaints to government agencies."

Then the number of cellphone users grew substantially from 97 million in 2000 to an estimated 158 million, Aronstein said.

With this great rise in usage, however, there was a corresponding increase in complaints. Aronstein said, "Today, complaints about cellphone service surpass almost every industry, exceeded only by complaints about used car dealers.

"Nationally, people most often cited billing problems, followed by complaints about inadequate customer service and miscommunication."

And, she added, "According to the Better Business Bureau, the cellphone industry is the most complained-about business in the United States."

With seniors buying cellphones to protect themselves, it has become necessary for the state to provide the services and protections cited by Aronstein and the AARP.

Aronstein says seniors should call 1- 800-327-1198 to urge the state senate to pass Bill Number S-3293 when the legislature gets back into session again.