Verizon Wireless proposes roaming rule change

Apparently, Verizon Wireless would be willing to make a compromise on roaming service agreements with smaller mobile operators. The company said it was proposing a new rule in response to lawmakers' concerns that current roaming regulations put small service providers at a disadvantage. When phone users travel outside the coverage area of their own service provider's network, roaming agreements allow them to use another carrier's network. Currently, wireless providers are not required to offer roaming services to rivals in areas where those rivals own wireless airwaves but have yet to build network coverage. But the company said that it would support a new law requiring it to provide rivals with roaming services in places it is not currently obliged to offer such services.