Yesterday, Public Information joined 4 different shopper and public curiosity teams in submitting a Petition to Deny to the Federal Communications Fee in opposition to a Switch of Management Software filed by T-Cell US, Inc. and United States Mobile Company. The proposed transactions would see T-Cell purchase UScellular’s buyer base and switch its spectrum holdings to different wi-fi carriers. Because the petition argues, the elimination of a wi-fi competitor and the additional focus of wi-fi spectrum holdings is opposite to the general public curiosity.
The next may be attributed to Peter Gregory, Broadband Coverage Fellow at Public Information:
“A transaction that eliminates a competitor whose footprint covers practically 35 million individuals, whereas additionally handing out nearly all of its spectrum holdings to the highest three wi-fi opponents, is dangerous to competitors and is opposite to the general public curiosity. As competitors authorities all over the world, together with the DOJ, have discovered, a market with a minimal of 4 opponents is sweet for decreasing costs, propelling innovation, enhancing high quality, and enhancing shopper alternative. “Had been the Fee to nonetheless grant this utility, we’ve got proposed situations that will alleviate a few of the transaction’s harms whereas offering some profit to the general public. These embody an unlocking requirement, a minimal service velocity threshold, a mandate for T-Cell to decide to pro-labor insurance policies, web neutrality necessities to make sure that visitors is handled open and pretty, and a dedication that T-Cell will effectively use allotted USF funds and assist Lifeline for all eligible clients.
“We ask the Fee to contemplate our Petition and make sure the wants of the general public come first.”
You might learn the total Petition to Deny right here.
Members of the media might contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to affix the Public Information press record at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.
