D.C. Memo: MAGA AG Lynn Fitch Agrees with Rosenworcel on ISP Customer Support

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State AGs: Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch — the state’s first Republican in that role since Reconstruction — just put her name on an FCC filing applauding the agency in thinking about applying consumer-protection regulations to broadband Internet Service Providers. Fitch’s name really stood out because other state AG signatories included numerous liberal Democrats, such as Connecticut AG William Tong, who in May sued Altice to recover millions of dollars in what he called “unlawfully charged ‘Network Enhancement Fees.’” Fitch, re-elected in 2023, is the first woman to hold the office. She is also known as the AG who took down Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in 2022. Fitch and company urged the FCC to support several ideas to improve customer service. “We suggest a recording requirement for consumer calls, and that such recordings should be made available to consumers upon request,” the AGs said. “We have received complaints from consumers that regularly expressed frustration towards service providers that tell them previous call recordings are only released pursuant to court order, subpoena, or other legal process. Service providers should be required to maintain call recordings that properly identify consumers who request such recordings and that the recordings are properly provided to consumers.” The AGs did not say whether the FCC had authority to step in. “Although we have not opined on whether the topics of this Notice of Inquiry are within the FCC’s jurisdiction, we applaud the FCC for bringing these important and relevant concerns to the forefront,” the AGs said. Current FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel launched the notice, but she is leaving office next month. Yesterday, Pennsylvania AG Michelle Henry issued a press release announcing the FCC filing in “support of rules that would require Internet, cable, voice, and broadcast satellite providers to take some of the pain out of routine customer service calls and allow for better consumer choices.” Other AGs on the letter were from California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona, Connecticut, Vermont, Michigan, Colorado, Maryland and D.C.