Bits on Broadband : with Fred Campbell

For the first time in many years, the FCC’s annual “CMRS” competition report (now called the “mobile” competition report) does not find that the wireless marketplace is “effectively competitive.” At today’s FCC meeting, Wireless Bureau Chief Ruth Milkman said the Bureau felt it should analyze the data without reaching a conclusion, but didn’t say why the Bureau felt that way. Unfortunately, I fear the real answer is that the FCC wants to engage in heavy-handed regulation of the wireless industry and doesn’t want a finding of “effective competition” to get in the way. Read the rest of this entry »

In a March post, I used slow sales of the Nexus One as an example of a disconnect between actual consumer behavior and the arguments of “consumer groups” in Washington. I noted that these consumer groups advocate against subsidized handsets subject to early termination fees based on their belief that consumers would be better off paying full price for handsets without an early termination fee. And I noted that Google’s attempt to prove the viability of a market for full-price handsets sans termination fee through direct sales of its Nexus One wasn’t faring very well. Google has now conceded the point. Read the rest of this entry »