House Republicans are stooges for AT&T and Verizon
by Karl Bode 93 minutes ago tags: legal · fcc · business · wireless · bandwidth · legislation · consumers · wireless
Since 1993 the FCC has had the authority to place restrictions on auctions or conditions on spectrum (like requiring auction winners offer wholesale access) -- depending on the bidders' market dominance and/or current spectrum holdings. As their spectrum and market positions attest, neither AT&T and Verizon have been harmed by the requirements. Still, both companies been busily lobbying for less FCC control over supposedly publicly-owned spectrum -- just because.
The dynamic DC duo's latest effort is a small-but-important bit buried in a House jobs bill stripping the FCC of the authority to try and keep spectrum auctions competitive. The language also prevents the FCC from implementing unlicensed spectrum for White Space broadband use, a new technology AT&T and Verizon would very much like to see killed in the technological cradle. The section in question:
Section 4105: Prevents the FCC from excluding bidders from participating in spectrum auctions for reasons other than citizenship, character, financial, and technical qualifications. Also prevents the FCC from using its licensing authority to impose net neutrality or mandatory wholesaling on licensees. This does not, however, alter the FCC's rulemaking authority in those areas.
Obviously smaller competitors, who benefit from these rules, aren't pleased. Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, C-Spire Wireless, Leap Wireless, NorthwestCell, Bluegrass Cellular, and Atlantic Tele-Network have sent a letter to Congress under the banner of the Rural Carrier Association. In it, they warn that AT&T and Verizon's ploy could have dangerous consequences and "creates enormous uncertainties and will impair every competitive carrier’s ability to build out their businesses and seek investors."
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-ATT-Lobby-to-Weaken-FCC-Spectrum-Authority-118302
