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CTIA: Wireless Just Too Damn Competitive For Neutrality Rules

Back when the FCC's neutrality rules were crafted in 2010, Google, AT&T and Verizon worked in unison to make sure they didn't cover wireless networks, something the FCC hints may change this time around. Meredith Atwell Baker, formerly an FCC Commisioner turned Comcast lobbyist turned wireless industry lobbyist, has been making the rounds the last two weeks trying to argue that the FCC was correct the first time around.

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In a letter (pdf) written to House members and in a speech given this week, the former FCC Commissioner argued that the wireless industry is so competitive, any rules would simply stagnate the industry as a whole:
quote:
"Given the clear, competitive import of network management to retain and attract subscribers, I will never understand why the government would intervene now, and even contemplate hamstringing disruptive competitors or reducing the competitive energy around delivering the best network experience."
The reason, of course, is that the wireless industry isn't all that competitive, with (despite some promising disruption from T-Mobile) both AT&T and Verizon dominating not only 80% of retail sales, but also special access connectivity.

Baker's also obviously pretending to be ignorant of the very, very long history CTIA members AT&T and Verizon have of trying to use their dominant position to disrupt emerging technologies, usually under the pretense of "network management." That has included blocking GPS radio access so you'll use carrier GPS apps, blocking tethering so you'll pay more, blocking Bluetooth, blocking competiting payment platforms or blocking competing and disruptive video chat services.

The pretense that neutrality rules are "a solution in search of a problem" simply isn't a reasonable or defensible position for anybody that's been paying attention to the behavior of large wireless carriers.

Were the wireless industry as competitive as Baker claims, certainly these issues wouldn't keep repeatedly rearing their head. Baker might want to spend less time pretending that her organization's members are model citizens, and more time wondering why nobody in the industry is showing up to CTIA trade events lately.

Most recommended from 18 comments



Zenit_IIfx
The system is the solution
Premium Member
join:2012-05-07
Purcellville, VA

2 recommendations

Zenit_IIfx

Premium Member

Oh its so competitive!

Its a very competitive wireless market when the two largest carriers (AT&T & VZ) both hold most of the low-band spectrum, leaving Sprint and T-Mobile with the scraps and high band spectrum.