Six House Democrats sent FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler...
Six House Democrats sent FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler a letter supporting an FCC proposal to use a new license size, partial economic area (PEA), during the incentive TV auction. “The ability of small and rural carriers to provide spectrum-based services…
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hastens the buildout of wireless services to consumers in rural America,” they said. Robust wireless service is often not available in rural areas, the letter said. “The Commission has an opportunity to take an important step forward to fill this detrimental geographical gap by adopting the PEA or similar license map.” The letter was signed by Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont, co-chairman of the Rural Telecom Working Group, plus Reps. Anna Eshoo, Doris Matsui and Jerry McNerney, all of California, Bobby Rush of Illinois and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico. PEAs are a good alternative to smaller cellular market area (CMA) licenses, said Steve Berry, president of the Competitive Carriers Association. “To promote competition and benefit consumers, especially in regional and rural areas, competitive carriers must have the opportunity to bid at auction,” he said. “If the FCC does not use CMAs, adopting CCA’s proposal for Partial Economic Areas would help ensure a compromise between the larger Economic Areas (EAs) and the smaller CMAs and would afford all carriers a meaningful chance to bid on much needed spectrum."