Wireless Industry Attorneys Stacking Up on NoDoz, Frozen Pizzas
by John Paczkowski
Posted on August 21, 2009 at 7:30 AM PT
Next week looks to be a painful one for big American wireless carriers. The Federal Communications Commission has announced its agenda for Thursday’s Open Commission meeting and it implies some long days ahead for wireless industry attorneys.
Among the issues to be discussed: The state of competition in the wireless market, carrier handset vendor-exclusivity deals like those between Apple (AAPL) and AT&T (T), fee-setting and “truth in billing.”
Also likely topics of discussion: Apple’s recent rejection of Google Voice from its App Store and why Google (GOOG) doesn’t support a full version of Skype for its Android mobile OS.
It’s not clear what will come of the meeting, though given the Obama administration’s intention to ratchet up scrutiny of antitrust issues, it’s likely that the inquiries proposed will be approved by FCC commissioners.
The wireless industry is already gritting its teeth in preparation. “We’re excited and we look forward to responding to the commission’s round of inquiries,” said Christopher Gutman-McCabe, vice president of regulatory affairs for CTIA, the wireless industry’s trade association. “We’re looking forward to educating not just the Commission but other policy makers about the evolution of the industry and the innovation that’s occurring, not just by carriers but across the ecosystem.”
