Press Release
AARP Misleading New Yorkers on Wireless Customer Satisfaction
and Support for Costly New State Regulations
The New York AARP’s May 2004 Survey Contradicts Its Public Statements and
Shows 89% of New Yorkers Are Satisfied Customers
NEW YORK, June 20, 2006 – A May 2004 statewide survey conducted by AARP shows that an overwhelming 89% of New York wireless consumers were satisfied with their wireless service, contradicting the group’s recent claims that New Yorkers want more “consumer protection” regulations on their wireless services.
“AARP’s own survey from May 2004 shows that New Yorkers are highly satisfied with their wireless service,” said Kimberly Kuo, Executive Director of MyWireless.org. “AARP is misleading New Yorkers and policymakers by saying that seniors support new state regulations on wireless services. These proposed regulations are just a bad solution looking for a nonexistent problem.”
“The New York AARP’s own survey data contradicts its recent claims that New Yorkers are willing to pay extra for a so-called consumer ‘bill of rights’ – they’re not. Objective statewide data collected by MyWireless.org shows that when people know they will have to pay more on their cell phone bills because of new regulations, 78% of consumers oppose a wireless ‘bill of rights,’” added Kuo.
In fact, the MyWireless.org survey showed majority opposition among seniors is higher than the opposition among consumers generally. Even when using the positive spin “bill of rights,” the majority of New York seniors (61%) believe a “cell phone bill of rights” would just add unneeded government regulations that would cause New York consumers to pay higher wireless prices and receive fewer choices for cell phone services.
MyWireless.org’s recent bipartisan survey of 800 likely voters who are also wireless phone users found that the majority of New York seniors (59%) oppose adding new state government regulations on wireless phone service. Only 16% support adding regulations.
After receiving results that did not support its push for more state wireless regulations, the New York AARP conducted a second survey in December 2005. AARP’s second survey omits questions regarding high consumer satisfaction, and consistently uses leading questions to produce desired responses.
“The New York AARP should direct its prescriptive approach at issues that would really benefit seniors – like affordable prescription drugs. New York’s seniors and consumers at large see through the spin of unnecessary wireless regulations, and understand it will harm the affordability and choices they enjoy with wireless today,” Kuo said.
A complete copy of the bipartisan MyWireless.org survey (conducted by McLaughlin & Associates and Penn, Schoen, & Berland Associates) is available at www.mywireless.org/stateissuesny.