Smaller Wireless Firms Urge FCC To Act On Roaming Proposal

A group of wireless firms sent a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John (Jay) Rockefeller (D-WV) arguing on behalf of a Federal Communications Commission proposal that would force national wireless carriers to provide roaming services for customers of regional service providers.

Smaller wireless carriers are concerned that their ability to offer national data plans could be undermined by the two largest wireless providers, AT&T and Verizon, who have a commercial incentive not to allow competitors to roam on their networks or charge unreasonably high prices. AT&T and Verizon dismiss claims that regulations are needed to guard against their competitors' concerns, saying the market is functioning perfectly without government intervention. Wireless providers Clearwire, Sprint, T-Mobile and others wrote Chairman Rockefeller seeking his support for the FCC plan. The FCC launched a notice of proposed rulemaking on the matter last spring, but it has yet to take further steps. Without the right to data roaming, the firms said, regional carriers' ability to keep investing in building out broadband infrastructure will be threatened. They argue that data roaming also is important to attracting the customers needed to maintain current networks or invest in greater broadband coverage, the letter added.