The Rural Cellular Association said it is no longer asking the FCC to investigate handset exclusivity arrangements between OEMs and Tier 1 carriers. Instead, the RCA said it would focus on the FCC's open proceeding exploring interoperability in the Lower 700 MHz band. Handset exclusivity was an issue that got a great deal of attention in 2008 and 2009, but it has since faded in importance--especially after more and more carriers got access to Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone. In a filing posted Friday with the FCC, the RCA said that while device exclusivity continues to "harm competition and impede the ability of wireless carriers to compete with AT&T and Verizon," the FCC's 700 MHz proceeding opened a window of opportunity. "Importantly, ensuring interoperability also will have a positive impact on the availability of cutting-edge devices that consumers demand and that competitive carriers require to compete effectively with the largest super-carriers, because the absence of interoperability has been a significant impediment (along with exclusivity) in smaller carriers' ability to obtain access to the latest handsets," the RCA wrote. Filing