Incoming FCC Chair Agrees to 'Review' Exclusive Phone Deals
Jun 19, 2009, 11:42 AM by Eric M. Zeman
Julius Genachowski, nominated to become chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has indicated that "if confirmed, I will ensure that the full record on the RCA petition is reviewed, and act accordingly to promote competition and consumer choice." The Rural Cellular Association (RCA) had petitioned the FCC to look into the exclusive deals between handset makers and cell phone network operators earlier this year. The issue gained more momentum recently when a handful of senators also asked the FCC to examine the issue. The RCA and senators involved believe that the exclusivity contracts may hinder consumer choice and may be an unfair practice. Genachowski, who made the above remarks in response to questions posed by the senators, has yet to be officially confirmed as the FCC chairman.
Comments
What if we want it the other way around?
Q: What happens if the other carriers still refuse to carry a phone, even if the anti-exclusivity legislation is passed?
Are they going to then force every carrier to carry and subsidize every phone on the market to promote "choice"?
This is a free market, screw the FCC.
justfinethanku said:
This is a free market, screw the FCC.
Wrong. It is not a free market.
As long as wireless carriers' business models are entirely dependent upon use of public property (e.g. spectrum), then w...
(continues)
FCC needs to find somthing better to do
NokiaGoth 😈
a simple summary...
This IS NOT about forcing handset manufacturers to create all handsets for all carriers (e.g. IS NOT about requiring Apple to build a CDMA iPhone).
And this IS NOT about forcing all carriers to offer all handsets.
Instead, this IS about potentially allowing all carriers fair opportunity to offer all technologically compatible handsets which they elect to offer, thereby creating greater consumer choice.
This governmental review is happening because both Congress & the FCC are concerned that major carriers, especially VZW & AT&T, are using t...
(continues)