Requiring device interoperability in the lower 700 MHz...
Requiring device interoperability in the lower 700 MHz band will promote some policy goals for the FCC, representatives of Vulcan Wireless said in a meeting with FCC General Counsel Sean Lev and other FCC officials. “Restoring interoperability will ensure a…
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common platform for the three Lower 700 MHz blocks, facilitating greater service deployment, competition, spectrum efficiency, and innovation in the band,” said an ex parte filing on the meeting (http://bit.ly/17izyUJ). “Moreover, the aggressive competition that interoperability will unleash will improve consumer service, reduce consumer switching costs, lower consumer prices, and enhance consumer choice. Interoperability will create a larger and more diverse device ecosystem while increased economies of scale drive down costs for all wireless carriers. Requiring services offered in the Lower 700 MHz band to interoperate does not favor one group of licensees over another, but puts consumers’ interests first, including those consumers living in more rural areas. In addition, interoperability will encourage more efficient use of spectrum, helping to ease the dire shortage of spectrum.” In a separate letter to the FCC, Vincent McBride, managing member of McBride Spectrum Partners, also urged an interoperability mandate. McBride bought the Pittsburgh 700 MHz A-block licenses in the 2008 700 MHz spectrum auction (http://bit.ly/12GQUWF). “AT&T has created an absolute barrier to entry for small businesses just the opposite of congressional intent to ensure that small business had an opportunity to compete in the mobile industry,” McBride said. “Hypothetically this non interoperability in the lower 700 MHz band may have been premeditated and deliberately designed to lock -out the competition from offering nationwide roaming."