Today CCIA filed Reply Comments with the FCC Thursday advocating that DISH Network be permitted to move forward with its planned
launch of a nationwide wireless broadband network.
DISH’s planned terrestrial network will create
meaningful, new competition in the ultra-concentrated wireless market and put
40 MHz of underutilized spectrum to use for wireless broadband services –
helping the Commission move forward toward achieving goals set forth in the National
Broadband Plan.
In both its 2010 and 2011 annual review of the
wireless industry, the FCC was unable to make a finding that the market for
wireless services is competitive. In fact, the data collected for the 2010 and
2011 studies show that the wireless industry is far from competitive, it’s
actually highly concentrated. The results were hardly surprising given the high
degree of consolidation over the past decade.
And even in a highly concentrated market,
competition in the wireless industry is still under attack via AT&T’s
proposed takeover of T-Mobile.
The FCC proclaims that it seeks to promote
competition in the wireless industry, and the Chairman often speaks about the
need for more spectrum to be deployed to support wireless broadband. DISH’s
planned network presents an opportunity for the Commission to accomplish both
tasks at once.
CCIA supports the Commission’s goals to increase
wireless competition and expand the amount of spectrum dedicated for wireless
broadband. And the Commission should move quickly to approve DISH’s plans to
launch its nationwide network.
For months the FCC has been faced with
Congressional inaction on spectrum auctions and with AT&T’s brazen attempt
to further consolidate the wireless market. DISH’s plan is an opportunity to
quickly and decisively advance its twin aims of greater competition and
increasing the amount of spectrum for wireless broadband – without having to
wait for Congressional approval or await a court decision to block AT&T.
The Commission should act now and approve DISH’s
plan.
