Wireless trade association CTIA is mounting a vigorous, preemptive defense of the U.S. wireless industry ahead of an FCC meeting Thursday at which the commission will consider opening inquiries into competitiveness and billing practices in the industry.
"The wireless industry in the U.S. has the coolest handsets, the applications are more robust, and the networks have the highest speeds with the lowest pricing," Christopher Guttman-McCabe, CTIA vice president of regulatory affairs, said in an interview with Computerworld. "Can things get better? Yes. But things will get better."
Guttman-McCabe said CTIA was confused by the level of criticism aimed at the wireless industry, noting that subscribers pay much less for service and have access to a far greater range of features than they did 15 years ago.
At the Thursday meeting, the FCC will consider inquiries into how innovation can be promoted and whether to solicit information on competition in the wireless industry. Additionally, the commission may investigate wireless billing practices, checking to see if subscribers should have more information about extra fees on their bills.
Guttman-McCabe said CTIA expects the commission to move forward with the probes, which would then give the industry an opportunity to defend itself. He said CTIA will not testify or file any comments Thursday, but that it expects to be able to respond later.
For more:
- see this Computerworld article
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