Wireless data plans put spotlight on FCC billing protection

As wireless companies introduce new, and sometimes confusing, service plans, expect pressure on the Federal Communications Commission to better protect consumers from false and misleading billing practices, analysts say.

All major carriers — with the exception of Sprint Nextel — have revamped their smartphone wireless Internet plans and done away with all-you-can-eat flat rates. Most have gone to tiered systems that ask consumers to pick plans based on how much data they consume each month. All carriers have systems to warn consumers through texts and phone calls they are about to go over their monthly limits, and users are charged penalties for exceeding their caps. AT&T, for example, charge $10 per gigabyte over a monthly allotment. But the warnings aren't mandatory and some lawmakers and consumer groups want the FCC to keep carriers accountable.