FCC seeking information about wireless fees

(AP) -- Federal regulators are asking the nation's big wireless companies whether they give customers adequate notice about early termination fees for breaking a service contract before it expires.

The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday sent letters to AT&T Inc., Verizon Communiations Inc., Sprint Nextel Corp., T-Mobile USA Inc. and Google Inc. asking for information about their approaches to early termination fees.

The FCC wrote that such fees are substantial and sometimes growing and "have an important impact on consumers' ability to switch carriers."

Last month, the agency asked Verizon Wireless why it recently doubled early termination fees for smart phone contracts to as much as $350 from $175. Verizon says those phones cost more.