CTIA: FCC’s Genachowski outlines mobile broadband priorities

AT&T CEO: COMPETITION, NOT REGULATION

Following up Genachowski, Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, used his Keynote presentation to make a carrier’s case for competition in the US wireless market, warning that regulators need to be careful when dealing with the most vibrant wireless market in the world. He outlined 10 facts to illustrate his point that competition is best served unregulated. Among the 10, he noted that US has the most carriers of any developed countries – 177 in total, four of which are national and 173 that are regional, local and specialty operators. The US is also the least concentrated market, with 95% of Americans having a choice from three or more carriers.

US customers also pay 60% less than globally and use their phones more than most, de la Vega said. They have their choice of 630 devices manufactured by more than 30 companies, including a choice of operating systems, data plans and applications.

The US carriers have also made massive investments totaling $264 billion since 1985, $125 billion of which was invested in the last five years and $20 billion last year in one of the worst economic years in history. These investments do not even include spectrum, he said. The rules should not change now after the money has been spent, but the networks haven’t all been put to use, de la Vega said.

“Today we have proven the US wireless industry is a world leader,” de la Vega said. “Before we change the cycle, we need to be aware of the consequences. There is no need to burden the mobile Internet with limitations.” It will have consequences for jobs, investments, the networks and wireless pricing structures, he said. AT&T supports the open Internet model Genachowski proposed, and de la Vega said he also supports the FCC’s call for facts, but he doesn’t see regulation as the solution.

US CARRIERS DONATE $1 MILLION TO ONE ECONOMY

Also as part of today’s keynotes, the CTIA on behalf of AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile committed $1 million to create a wireless component to One Economy, an organization to ensure low-income people have access to information, and its Digital Connectors program. The carriers’ four CEOs came on stage to present a check to Ray Ramsey, CEO of One Economy. The organization is hiring 300 young individuals committed to supplying 20,000 hours of service on issues, such as no texting while driving and mobile app campaigns around public purposes, in their communities – both urban and rural – across the country.