Public Knowledge Joins Save Wireless Choice Coalition

Public Knowledge has joined other public interest groups and wireless companies in the Save Wireless Choice Coalition.

That is a group pushing the FCC to set aside more low-band spectrum in the broadcast incentive auction for carriers other than AT&T and Verizon, which already have the majority of that spectrum.

The group is also pushing for an early 2016 auction, as the FCC has proposed.

The FCC just last week sought more comment on what its bidding rules for the incentive, and subsequent, auctions should be.

“We can’t let AT&T and Verizon, the two largest carriers, completely dominate the wireless market by buying up all the spectrum licenses," said Harold Feld, senior VP of Public Knowledge. "This lack of competition drives prices up for consumers and encourages carriers to overlook updating their own networks. In order to promote wireless competition and innovation, we need to help competitors acquire sufficient high-quality low-band spectrum. Otherwise, AT&T and Verizon continue to walk all over the wireless market -- and consumers.”

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.