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Nov. 15, 2008

In 2007, the Cellular Telephone Industries Association (CTIA) argued strongly against the notion that wireless carriers be required to share their future networks with competitors’ customers and had filed a lawsuit against the FCC for requiring open access in the 700 MHz blocks.

However, the CTIA yesterday dropped its lawsuit, but without stating any official reason.

For its part, Verizon Wireless won the largest segment of the 700 MHz spectrum with a $4.7 billion bid and supported the open-access requirement.

Verizon will become the largest wireless operator in the U.S., surpassing AT&T, when its acquisition of Alltel is completed in December.

Consumer advocate group Free Press yesterday praised the news. Free Press policy director Ben Scott said “this remarkable turn of events demonstrates how skeptical we should be when trade associations cry wolf over policies that are obviously in the public interest.”

A CTIA spokesperson could not be reach for comment late Friday afternoon.

“Now, quietly, the CTIA has dropped its lawsuit and is walking away as if nothing happened and everyone always agreed that openness was fair... If they are relying on Washington's legendary amnesia to forget this hypocrisy, here is one public interest group that will not comply,” Scott added.

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Source: Free Press.