The Washington Post's Cecelia Kang this past weekend broke the news that FCC chairman Kevin J. Martin is planning to expand a June 12 hearing on cell phone early termination fees to discuss similar issues regarding cable and Internet services as well.

"The issue has been highlighted in the context of the wireless industry, but what I'd also point out is that this is a practice that seems to be migrating to other platforms," Martin said. "To the extent that the commission takes action and says that these kinds of practices are reasonable and these are not, that could have implications for other industries."

"The attention to cancellation fees illustrates a growing frustration among consumers, who spend an average of $200 each month for wireless phone, cable and Internet services," Kang writes. "Many see the fees as an unfair penalty that makes it difficult to switch providers. Early termination fees were among the five most common complaints by cellphone users, who filed 20,300 service-related complaints in 2007, according to the FCC."

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