FCC Should Allow Verizon, AT&T a Fair Bid for Wireless Spectrum

No one at the FCC has said anything other than every company should have a fair chance to acquire wireless spectrum in any future auction.

The facts are, the current law, which was the result of a bi-partisan compromise in Congress, has governed more than 80 wireless auctions and brought in more than $50 billion to the U.S. Treasury. This is a law that works.

It has served consumers and the wireless industry well, including AT&T and Verizon Wireless. (Together, the two carriers control 73% of all the spectrum below 1GHz -- the most valuable spectrum out there. There's no evidence that the current law disadvantages these companies -- the evidence is otherwise.)

The writers are advocating changes to a law which works, to ensure that AT&T and Verizon increase their strong spectrum position at the expense of the rest of the wireless industry. This public policy surely makes sense for the shareholders of AT&T and Verizon, but not for the rest of America.

John Taylor

Public Affairs

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John Taylor of VA 10:01PM February 07, 2012