-In response to the areas of consumer concern noted above, wireless carriers have taken a number of actions in recent years. For example, officials from the four major carriers, Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile, reported taking actions such as prorating their early termination fees, offering service options without contracts, and providing Web-based tools consumers can use to research a carrier's coverage area, among other efforts. In addition, according to CTIA-The Wireless Association, the wireless industry spent an average of $24 billion annually between 2001 and 2007 on infrastructure and equipment to improve call quality and coverage.

-The GAO estimates that about 19% of wireless users wanted to switch carriers since the beginning of 2008 but did not do so. Then 42% of these wireless phone users who wanted to switch but did not because of the early termination fee.

The GAO plans to complete a full report in the fall and expects to make recommendations then.

The the FCC in the past.  Last year in fact it issued a report highly critical of the way the commission handled some of the 454,000 complaints it received between 2003 and 2006 saying the agency needs to improve how it tracks and responds to consumer, safety and service complaints.

The disagreeing with the way its research was conducted and saying it already has implemented measures to address concerns. The FCC fields complaints on everything from unsolicited calls and quality of telecommunications services to indecent broadcast materials and number portability.