The Yankee Group study said it is only a matter of time before parental outrage reaches the FCC if the industry does not implement parental control solutions.
"How wireless carriers choose to respond to this growing industry concern will dictate the impact of their role with the government and within the industry," Yankee Group spokesman Adam Zawel said.
In the study, The Yankee Group said the market — estimated to grow to $192 million by 2009 — would be best served if it voluntarily policed itself.
"With solid, strategic investment in self-regulation, wireless carriers can achieve the dual benefit of protecting minors from adult content while safely profiting from the opportunity," Zawel said.
The study warned, however, that if numerous states get involved, carriers would be forced to deploy costly multiple parental controls.
“A small investment now in a filter or parental control solution is a worthwhile investment when measured against the risk of invasive, costly regulations,” the study said.
In particular, the carriers should take a parental control approach similar to that used for home PCs, The Yankee Group said.
The Boston-based think tank said that it expects at least one U.S. carrier to claim leadership in moving forward on addressing this issue.
