CCA Supports Vetting Verizon’s Proposed Deals, 700 MHz Interoperability
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lucy Tutwiler
April 26, 2012 (202) 449-9866
CCA Supports Vetting Verizon’s Proposed Deals, 700 MHz Interoperability
Washington, DC – Today, in a letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, Ranking Members Henry Waxman and Anna Eshoo encouraged the Committee to hold a hearing to further examine Verizon’s proposed spectrum deal with the cable companies, Verizon’s conditional sale of its Lower 700 MHz A and B block spectrum, and the detrimental impacts on interoperability. CCA supports vetting these important issues, as the proposed transactions will not help restore competition to the marketplace.
Steven K. Berry, President & CEO of CCA – The Competitive Carriers Association said, “We commend Ranking Members Waxman and Eshoo for their letter encouraging the House Energy and Commerce Committee to vet the policy issues implicated by Verizon’s proposed deals with the cable companies, its conditional sale of its 700 MHz A and B block licenses, and Lower 700 MHz interoperability. Upon closer examination, I think policymakers will see that Verizon’s proposed sale of its Lower 700 MHz spectrum is not sufficient to resolve the competitive concerns raised in the transactions with the cable companies. Further, interoperability in the Lower 700 MHz spectrum band must be addressed to sufficiently restore competition to the marketplace and benefit consumers, and I cannot stress enough the importance of an interoperability requirement and conditions on this transaction for competitive carriers and consumers.”
About CCA
CCA is the nation’s leading association for competitive wireless providers serving rural and regional areas of the United States. The licensed service area of CCA’s more than 100 members covers 95 percent of the nation.
