FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 03, 2009
TIA Urges Caution Over Petition to Regulate Private Contracts in Wireless Market
TIA Recommends That the FCC Issue a Notice of Inquiry to Fully Consider if Any Action to Prohibit Exclusive Contracts Between Service Providers and Manufacturers Is Warranted
Washington, D.C. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) yesterday submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging measured restraint in response to the Rural Cellular Association's (RCA) Petition for Rulemaking regarding exclusivity arrangements between commercial wireless carriers and handset manufacturers.
"As companies that manufacture innovative information and communications technology (ICT) equipment, including wireless handsets, TIA members would be greatly impacted by regulation of private contracts in the wireless services market," said TIA Vice President for Government Affairs Danielle Coffey. "TIA is concerned that the prohibition of exclusive contracts between wireless carriers and handset manufacturers will lead to unintended consequences that will hamper provision of new wireless devices and services," she added.
Because RCA has not established competitive harm or that banning exclusive contracts would lead to more available wireless broadband devices and services for U.S. consumers and RCA members, TIA requested that the Commission address this issue through a Notice of Inquiry (NOI), which will provide the Commission data necessary to make a reasoned ruling on the RCA Petition.
"Further, the Commission should act cautiously before regulating private contracts, particularly in a market that is competitive and is currently producing a wide variety of innovative devices available to consumers throughout the United States," Coffey continued. "Finally, the Commission has launched numerous initiatives that will spur the provision of broadband and facilitate competition in rural areas without the need to regulate private contracts."
TIA's comments are available on the FCC filings page at tiaonline.org.
For more information, please contact Danielle Coffey at (202) 346-3243 or dcoffey@tiaonline.org.
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About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, tradeshows, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. With roots dating back to 1924, TIA enhances the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment and entertainment. TIA co-owns the SUPERCOMM® tradeshow and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit tiaonline.org.
TIA's Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS, ADC, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, ArrayComm, AttivaCorp, Avaya, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cam Communications, Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., GENBAND, Inc., Graybar, Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, OneChip Photonics Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., and Verari Systems. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, Orca Systems and Telcordia Technologies.
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