Cell Phone Users Bill of Rights

The Cell Phone Users Bill of Rights (S. 1216) was designed to increase consumer flexibility and transparency within the wireless telephone industry. If passed, the bill would have required service providers to allow customers to keep their existing phone numbers when switching to a different carrier, a process known as "number portability." Additionally, the legislation mandated that providers disclose clear details regarding service plans—such as contract lengths, hidden fees, and taxes—while providing accessible coverage maps and reporting service quality data to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The practical impact for citizens would have been greater ease in switching providers without the burden of changing phone numbers and more predictable monthly billing through standardized disclosure requirements. While this specific bill did not become law after its introduction in 2003, many of its core objectives, particularly wireless number portability, were later implemented through FCC regulations.