Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski said on Friday that Verizon Wireless needs to more clearly explain its policies on fees it charges when customers cancel their cellphone services before the end of their contract.

The U.S. telecommunications regulator is looking into a recent doubling of the early termination fee by Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone Group Plc.

Asked to comment on a recent Verizon Wireless filing addressing the inquiry, Genachowski told reporters at the Consumer Electronics Show here that he needs more information.

I thought that response raised more questions than it answered. The bureau is looking into that, he said but declined to say what the FCC's next move would be in that case. Verizon Wireless had cited increasing costs for the fee hike.

There's a very real level of consumer confusion around these areas, Genachowski said.

(Reporting by Sinead Carew)

Verizon Communications Inc.