Watchdog Refers Sprint To FCC Over Ads

An ad industry watchdog has referred Sprint to the Federal Communications Commission over ads stating that mobile customers can save 50 percent on their monthly rates by switching to Sprint.

The National Advertising Division, a unit administered by the Better Business Bureau, recommended in May that Sprint revise the ads, which appeared on TV, the radio, the Web, and in print. On Aug 19, the NAD said it had referred Sprint to the FCC because the company "has not agreed to implement all of NAD’s recommendations." A Sprint spokeswoman says the company believes its ads are "truthful, accurate and in the spirit of competition." The ads, which were challenged by T-Mobile, promised to slash people's bills by 50% when they switched to Sprint. T-Mobile argued that the boasts were problematic because its customers are on "hundreds" of plans, and only some customers would see their bills reduced by 50 percent by switching to Sprint.