http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 3:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
It makes me sad to see Google's name grouped with the evil telecomms :(]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
The moment Google offered an object of desire (Nexus One) they themselves became evil.]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/It makes me sad they have a nasty equipment recovery fee. ]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
I can even support Apple but definitely not Google.. they are scary.
Just because they are giving away stuffs for free doesn't make them customer loving company.]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 4:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
Can someone explain to me why the 8GB iPod touch's MSRP is $199, and the 8GB iPhone 3G has an out-of-contract MSRP of, what, like $449? $499?

There HAS to be price fixing/shenanigans going on. That 3G radio, and that FCC licensing fee cannot possibly be costing hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

THIS is what the FCC should be looking into! ]]>Jan 26th 2010 5:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 6:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/So you're alright with Hynix, Infineon, Micron Technology, Samsung, and Elpida dram manufactures fixing prices in the DRAM market,]]>Jan 26th 2010 6:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
that would be fine if only one or some of the handset makers charged that much, but they all do. businesses coordinating their prices to make them higher and make big margins on each unit is sketchy. if an investigation found it was unintentional, nothing might happen. if it was found that there was intentional cooperation, that's illegal (type of monopoly) and there would be ramifications.]]>Jan 26th 2010 7:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
the irony of all of this is that google is trying to break the subsidy paradigm by pushing an unsubsidized phone paired with t-mobile's lower monthly charge plan, confusingly called "even more plus". ]]>Jan 27th 2010 12:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 27th 2010 3:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 3:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 3:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
How do you know that? Oh right, you can't. Well done. ]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
Why is the FCC doing this instead of the FTC? Isn't this more about fair practices with customers than specific use of the airwaves?]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 4:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 27th 2010 11:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 4:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
(Wiretapping allowed by FCC)
(Against free AWS-3 - Look it up)
(net neutrality - since been reversing a bit)]]>Jan 26th 2010 5:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
i say :SPRINT OR GOOGLE FIRST...AT&T most bullsh*t explanation..

]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
The ETFs from the wireless providers, on the other hand, seem to be some combination of scare tactics and actual penalties and "expected income loss" fees that they somehow feel they are entitled to when a customer leaves. Of course, if their coverage is crap or their service sucks, too bad to the consumer, they still feel they are owed what they can't milk you out of if you leave early.]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 3:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/They never actually cost $100. The subsidy offered in the contracts has been paid for by higher service charges and fees.


Who else will not be surprised if the FCC ends up doing nothing. The FCC and FTC we have today are large and somehow overburdened monstrosities that never evolved with the technologies they were meant to oversea. Welcome to bad government 101.]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/They were doing nothing before, but i consider this a definite step up from doing nothing. ]]>Jan 26th 2010 4:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
The phone never "cost" $100. Price != Cost. But don't feel bad, Obama is confused about that as well. ]]>Jan 26th 2010 6:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 6:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
$20 per month up to a maxium of $400 for voice and $20 per month up to a maxium of 300 for data. Total @$$ raping of $700.

ETF should just be, pay off your device because that's all you keep anyways.]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Don't forget the equipment, YOUR equipment that you fully paid off, would still be locked. Bell and Telus apparently wants another $75 to unlock, Rogers won't even talk to you about that.]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 4:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
I shouldn't need to pay for unlocking in the first place, period.]]>Jan 26th 2010 8:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 3:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 3:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 3:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 3:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/i love you. ]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
Tmobile USA is doing the exact same thing if you care to look at that as an opiton.]]>Jan 26th 2010 4:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 4:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 4:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
Step 1: Get a credit card. Step 2: Use said card to pay full retail price for phone. Step 3: Make minimum payments on your card while enjoying your phone on your service provider with no contract or ETF. Same thing as what you just recommended...]]>Jan 26th 2010 5:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
The point is to keep the same basic structure (free/cheap phones with some semblance of commitment) but to make it much more clear what you are paying for. Yes, basically what T-Mob is doing, but with a real wireless footprint and real 3G coverage.]]>Jan 26th 2010 7:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Right now I am on their 300 minute pre-Even More Plus plan for $75 a month. Although the month to month plans are cheaper by about $10, the unlimited Even More Plus plan with web and text is $80, so I see no value in paying more per month. I wish that they would just cut me a $120 check since I've been with them for almost a year. Their plans are under the guise of being cheaper, but people who only used 300-600 minutes are bumped up to the unlimited plan for more. I talked to several reps and was also quite pissed at the fact that they require you to sign a contract to get an employee discount through the company I work for. The rep, to get the sale, suggested I sign a contract for a free phone then just sell it, to cover any potential ETFs, lol. I am just sticking with them until something like the Droid hits ATT. ]]>Jan 27th 2010 10:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
It's just the constant, burning skeptic in me. Letters are nice, action is better.]]>Jan 26th 2010 3:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/They could be using the letters as ammo. Like we read your explanation and its bullshit so this is what we are going to do. ]]>Jan 26th 2010 4:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 3:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 3:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 3:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/
Some of the major wireless carriers in the US do this currently. The ETF amounts are prorated every month that you stay within your contract. ]]>Jan 26th 2010 5:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/fcc-expands-etf-inquiry-fires-off-letters-to-atandt-sprint-t-mo/Jan 26th 2010 3:43PM