Rural cell users may get break on fees

RURAL CELL USERS MAY GET A BREAK ON FEES
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Paul Davidson]
Customers of rural wireless companies would be able to roam in more cities and at lower rates under new rules likely to be adopted soon by the Federal Communications Commission. Rural carriers complain that the large national carriers often charge them exorbitant roaming fees and sometimes refuse to let them roam on their networks at all. The strategy has squeezed many rural providers out of the market, says the Rural Telecommunications Group (RTG), a small-carrier association. Kevin Martin, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, is recommending new rules requiring carriers to offer competitors roaming agreements at "just and reasonable rates," FCC officials say. The officials asked to remain anonymous because the five commissioners have not yet voted on the proposal. But the proposal stops short of a request by rural companies for a hard cap on roaming fees. Perhaps more significant: It does not cover roaming for broadband services, a fast-growing market.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070716/2b_rural_wireless16....