Updated on June 18th, 2010
In my analysis of the FCC’s 14th Mobile Competition Report (“14th Report”), I noted that the 14th Report lacked relevant data supporting its conclusion that spectrum below 1 GHz may provide competitive advantages. Among other things, I noted the 14th Report failed to consider elements affecting cell density other than propagation characteristics – elements such as capacity, geographic terrain, and typical power levels.
Now the FCC itself has confirmed the relevance of these factors to cell density. In a white paper released this week (“Public Safety Report”), the FCC published “a technical analysis of the capacity and performance of the public safety broadband network assuming that the National Broadband Plan recommendations concerning this network are implemented.” (Public Safety Report at 1.) Read the rest of this entry »
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mobile public safety spectrum wireless wireless competition
Updated on June 7th, 2010
Patrick Star: “Opposite Day? Hey, I’ve heard of that.”
SpongeBob: “You have?”
Patrick Star: “No, what is it?”
SpongeBob SquarePants (1999)
Last week AT&T announced “new wireless data plans that make it more affordable for more people to enjoy the benefits of the mobile Internet.” How will AT&T do that? It is abandoning unlimited data services effecting June 7, 2010, and moving to usage-based pricing plans. The lowest-price plan is 50% less expensive than AT&T’s current unlimited data plan and offers enough data to satisfy approximately 65% of AT&T’s customers on average according to AT&T’s press release. The current unlimited plan is $30 per month. The new smallest plan available is only $15 per month for 200 MB of data (but, if customers exceed 200 MB in a monthly billing cycle, they will receive an additional 200 MB of data usage for $15 for use in the cycle). AT&T will also offer a plan that allows up to 2 GB a month of data usage for $25 (with an additional $10 charge for an additional 1 GB over the limit).
With these new plans it looks like the average AT&T customer will actually save money, which should make “consumer groups” happy, right? Not when it’s opposite day. Rather than recognize the benefits of a more rational pricing scheme – one that accounts for actual usage patterns – Chris Riley at Free Press accused AT&T of “price gouging” for charging “low-end users $15 per 200 MB” rather than the $30 per month they pay now for unlimited service they don’t need. Yes, SpongeBob, it is price gouging when you lower prices – on opposite day.
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AT&T broadband Free Press wireless
Updated on June 4th, 2010
After speaking about broadband stimulus at an RCR Wireless event last week, I was approached by an engineer that was a volunteer application reviewer for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”). He said that he had review a number of fixed wireless applications and scored them very highly, and was later shocked to find out that NTIA staff had rejected his findings in favor of granting middle mile proposals. The engineer felt betrayed. Read the rest of this entry »
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Updated on June 4th, 2010
“The sum of anecdotes is not data.” Roger Brinner (economist).
As someone who took pride in my role overseeing the production of the 12th CMRS Competition Report, I read with great interest the 14th Mobile Wireless Competition Report (“14th Report”). Although I was impressed with many elements of the 14th Report, I was also perplexed by some of its conclusions. Perhaps the most perplexing aspect of the report is its discussion of spectrum, in which it relies on a number of anecdotes masquerading as data to reach a new “conclusion.”
The new element of the 14th Report in respect to spectrum is its discussion of the differences between spectrum below 1 GHz and spectrum above 1 GHz. For the first time ever the FCC concludes that “providers whose spectrum assets include a greater amount of spectrum below 1 GHz spectrum may possess certain competitive advantages for providing robust coverage when compared to licensees whose portfolio is exclusively or primarily comprised of higher frequency spectrum.” (14th Report at paragraph 283.) But the 14th Report doesn’t include any actual data supporting this “conclusion.” The 14th Report instead relies on a series of anecdotes to justify its new position, and doesn’t attempt to quantify the extent of any such competitive advantage (assuming one actually exists) at all. Without some data demonstrating that differences in frequency actually yield significant competitive advantages, the “conclusion” is really just a hypothesis. Read the rest of this entry »
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data roaming mobile spectrum wireless wireless competition