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June 29, 2010

The CTIA (The Wireless Association, originally known as the Cellular Telephone Industries Association) issued a statement yesterday saying the 2010 CTIA Enterprise and Applications show in October will be the last one to be held in San Francisco for the foreseeable future.

Some observers in the wireless industry now believe that this was a local political decision, but that the real reasons are still unclear at this time.

Initially, leaving the Bay Area sounds at first like an extreme reaction to what's essentially an ordinance about labeling.

But according to CTIA vice president of public affairs John Walls, it isn't always that simple. (Or is it?)

The FCC has set an already conservative threshold of 1.6 watts per kilogram, and only phones that pass that threshold are legally sold in the U.S. Anything at or below that level is deemed safe.

The problem is that a smartphone, for example, might carry an SAR of 1.4 while a feature phone across the aisle bears a level of 1.0. A consumer might be inclined to buy the feature phone if the SAR is top of mind when shopping for a phone.

The smartphone might have a higher SAR because it was measured with three radios – Wi-Fi, cellular and Bluetooth – going full tilt when in reality, all three usually are not in full simultaneous operation. There's no uncertainty about meeting the standard, Walls says. It's the perception it leaves with consumers that one device might be "better" than another that is so confusing to some.

CTIA says other cities already have expressed an interest in being a site for its annual show. It could even stay in California, since those details are being worked out as you read this.

CTIA's board had to sign off on this decision, and the board happens to be led by Chairman Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T Mobility & Consumer Markets, exclusive carrier of the iPhone.

CTIA's decision to take its business elsewhere did not come without a great deal of discussion, CTIA officials say. CTIA worked hard to present the facts and educate the board in San Francisco, it claims, and the association would rather not leave the city.

"It was clear to us that we weren't wanted there so let's go to a city and venue that has a more responsible and reasonable perspective on the industry and all the great things it does for people," Walls said.

But San Francisco also happens to be city that to many consumers who complained that they were getting dropped calls on AT&T's network and that the wireless carrier had to make major network improvements to improve the situation.

San Francisco has a well-earned reputation for being at the forefront of many debates: Bans on plastic grocery bags spring to mind, and the mayor once again is calling for a "Soda-Free Summer" for kids. There's nothing wrong with knowing the information about SAR levels, but posting it without a full explanation of what it means could do more harm than good.

Well, we told you that there were some local politics involved on this one...

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Source: BVCG.