Media Contact: 
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC PROPOSES RULES TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM  
‘SLAMMING’ AND ‘CRAMMING’
New Rules Would Prevent Unauthorized Carrier Changes & Fees on Phone Bills, and 
Strengthen FCC’s Ability to Take Action When Bad Actors Violate the Law
  --
WASHINGTON, July 13, 2017 – The Federal Communications Commission today has begun a 
rulemaking process to prevent consumers from being switched to a different phone provider 
without their permission or having unauthorized charges added to their bills – activities known 
respectively as “slamming” and “cramming.”
  
The FCC’s proposed rules would prohibit carriers from misrepresenting themselves when 
telemarketing to consumers and placing unauthorized charges on their phone bills. Unscrupulous
carriers often use these scams against vulnerable populations – such as the elderly, recent
immigrants, small businesses, and non-English speakers.
While current Commission rules provide some protection against unauthorized charges and 
carrier switches, the Commission is considering new ways to give consumers more control of
their accounts.  Some dishonest carriers have abused the current system to defraud consumers.  
The Commission is considering requiring that a phone carrier check directly with the consumer 
before switching an account to another carrier, rather than relying on that second carrier’s request 
for that change.  Likewise, the Commission is considering preventing third-party charges from 
being added to a consumer’s phone bill unless the consumer expressly agrees to the charges.
Some of the bad actors who perpetrate slamming and cramming have been known to misrepresent 
who they are or fabricate the consumer’s verification of a switch without actually contacting the 
consumer. Others ask consumers to answer questions on an unrelated call and then splice the 
consumer’s answers into the alleged verification. Still others do not even bother to submit a 
carrier change but simply cram charges on the consumer’s telephone bill for services that were 
never authorized.  The FCC’s proposed rule changes would seek to address these troubling trends. 
The FCC has jurisdiction to enforce laws against “slamming” and “cramming” and has taken 
numerous actions over the years to fine companies for such behavior.  Today’s proposed 
rulemaking would help prevent such violations from taking place in the first place while 
providing more clarity on the rules of the road for those carriers committed to best practices for 
their customers. 
To read more about rules against “cramming” unauthorized charges onto consumers’ bills, visit 
this consumer guide: https://go.usa.gov/xNeeV
To read more about carriers “slamming” consumers off of their preferred service provider, visit 
this consumer guide: https://go.usa.gov/xNeeF
Action by the Commission July 13, 2017 by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 17-91). 
Chairman Pai, Commissioners Clyburn and O’Rielly approving and issuing separate statements.
CG Docket No. 17-169
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Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Twitter: @FCC
www.fcc.gov/office-media-relations
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order 
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).