May 15, 2014
MTPCS, LLC d/b/a Cellular One
The following statement may be attributed to Jonathan Foxman, President & CEO, MTPCS, LLC d/b/a Cellular One and CCA Chairman of the Board:
“I applaud Chairman Wheeler and the Wireless Bureau for moving forward with competitive auction rules for the 600 MHz broadcast spectrum. The Commission’s announcement to auction fully interoperable 600 MHz spectrum in 5x5 MHz building blocks and, particularly, in smaller geographic license sizes is a real win for competition and for consumers. Reserving a small amount of spectrum for competitive carriers will help to increase access to capital and participation in the auction. I would also like to thank Competitive Carriers Association for its hard work and advocacy to promote competition in rural America. I look forward to working with the Commission to finalize the details for the auction and, ultimately, bidding in the auction.”
Cellular One is a highly successful US regional wireless carrier, serving customers in Louisiana, Texas, and the Gulf of Mexico. Cellular One is committed to providing great value and exceptional service for its customers. The Cellular One team of knowledgeable, experienced professionals is dedicated to serving customers and local communities in ways that far exceed their expectations.
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Bluegrass Cellular
The following statement may be attributed to Ron Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Bluegrass Cellular:
“Today, the FCC took a significant step forward for competition and consumers by adopting a competitive framework for the upcoming 600 MHz auction. Bluegrass, along with other competitive carriers, has consistently advocated for smaller geographic license sizes for new wireless spectrum, and while not as good as Cellular Market Areas, the Partial Economic Areas proposed by the vast majority of the wireless industry are a good compromise from the larger Economic Areas originally considered. In addition to right-sizing the spectrum offered in the auction, the Commission’s decision to reserve up to 30 MHz of spectrum for non-dominant providers who participate in the auction will further promote competition and rural Americans’ access to next generation services. Bluegrass Cellular looks forward to reviewing the rules once released, working with the Commission on further details and expanding access to rural Kentuckians through bidding in the incentive auction.”
Bluegrass Cellular was the first cellular carrier to provide analog cellular network service in rural Kentucky. Since the initiation of service, the Bluegrass Cellular wireless network has grown to provide coverage to 40 counties within its license areas. Bluegrass Cellular is committed to serving as a pioneer of wireless service in rural Kentucky.
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C Spire Wireless
C SPIRE SENIOR EXECUTIVE COMMENTS ON FCC’s ADOPTION OF PROCESSES GOVERNING INCENTIVE AUCTION
Ridgeland, Mississippi – C Spire Senior Vice President Eric Graham responded to the FCC’s adoption of processes governing the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction:
“C Spire is pleased the Commission has adopted the processes governing the 600 MHz spectrum auction. The Reports and Orders summarized at today’s Open Meeting can be a significant step towards restoring competition in the wireless industry.
“Based on our understanding of the Reports and Orders, we believe the policies established today will improve competition in the wireless industry and boost all consumers’ access to innovative mobile broadband services, as well as increase the likelihood that C Spire will participate in the 600 MHz auction.”
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Carolina West Wireless
The following statement may be attributed to Slayton Stewart, CEO, Carolina West Wireless:
“Today, the FCC took steps to unleash much-needed, valuable 600 MHz spectrum for mobile broadband use. Carolina West Wireless fully supports the FCC's proposal and is enthusiastic about the opportunity to participate, bid on and win this resource. Carolina West is encouraged that the FCC's proposal will promote competition in the auction and in the wireless market through smaller geographic license sizes, spectrum aggregation limits through reserved spectrum, and assurances of interoperability. Carolina West Wireless is fully committed to providing our customers in rural North Carolina with the most robust service possible, and the FCC's action today provides smaller carriers like us a real opportunity to compete and win much needed spectrum.
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Cellcom
The following may be attributed to Patrick Riordan, President & CEO, Cellcom:
“As a rural carrier fully committed to providing service to consumers throughout northern Wisconsin and parts of Michigan, Cellcom fully support the FCC’s spectrum auction proposal for 600 MHz spectrum. With smaller geographic license sizes, spectrum aggregation limits in the form of reserved spectrum, and assurances of interoperability, Cellcom is encouraged that the FCC’s proposal will promote competition in auction and in the wireless market. Cellcom has built its service with the belief that consumers in rural Wisconsin deserve the same services as their urban counterparts. Cellcom is eager to participate in the FCC’s incentive auction to ensure residents in rural Wisconsin have have access to the highest quality mobile broadband service and the latest consumer devices.”
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Chat Mobility
The following statement may be attributed to Brian Spurgeon, General Manager, Chat Mobility:
“Chat Mobility applauds the FCC's actions today to provide small and rural carriers with a meaningful opportunity to participate in the upcoming 600 MHz auction. Smaller geographic licenses and reserved low band spectrum will provide small and rural carriers the ability to participate in the auction and seek spectrum to provide innovative mobile broadband services in rural areas.”
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DISH Network
"Today’s spectrum aggregation and incentive auction orders provide some elegant solutions to complex problems. Consumers and competition will benefit from non-dominant carriers having the opportunity to obtain critical low-band spectrum. DISH commends the leadership of Chairman Wheeler, and the work of the Incentive Auction Task Force and Wireless Bureau on these important orders,” said Jeff Blum, DISH’s SVP & Deputy General Counsel
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NTELOS Wireless
The following statement may be attributed to Jim Hyde, President & CEO, NTELOS Wireless:
“NTELOS is pleased with the rules adopted today by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the upcoming 600 MHz incentive auction. We applaud the FCC for adopting smaller geographic license sizes (PEAs), which will enable smaller carriers such as NTELOS to effectively bid for necessary spectrum in its core markets. In addition, because access to under 1 GHz spectrum is critical to the deployment of competitive services to consumers, NTELOS supports the FCC’s decision to reserve a certain amount of spectrum for bidding by non-dominant carriers. We believe that the FCC’s rules will promote broad participation by all wireless carriers, large and small, which will in turn maximize revenues available for participating broadcasters, FirstNet and the U.S. Treasury. NTELOS looks forward to participating in the 600 MHz auction, and thanks the FCC for adopting rules that will promote wireless competition.”
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Public Service Wireless
The following statement may be attributed to Kelly Bond, President & CEO, Public Service Wireless, Inc.:
“Public Service Wireless supports the Commission's actions today that will afford rural carriers with the opportunity to compete for 600 MHz spectrum in their own markets. By licensing spectrum on a smaller Partial Economic Area basis and by limiting spectrum aggregation through reserved low band spectrum, carriers like Public Service serving rural America have a viable opportunity to offer consumers wireless services that provide the sought after benefits of low band spectrum.”
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Sprint
By Lawrence R. Krevor, Vice President - Spectrum, Legal and Government Affairs
“We appreciate the Commission’s diligence in creating an auction structure that fosters competition and recognizes the special competitive utility of low-band spectrum. By establishing market-based reserves, the 600 MHz Incentive Auction rules enhance the ability of small carriers to bid on critical low-band spectrum.
“We are disappointed, however, that in revising its spectrum screen the Commission did not recognize the varying impact of commercial spectrum bands on broadband competition. As a result, the revised spectrum screen will not help the Commission identify transactions that warrant a more detailed competitive analysis.
“We will fully review the decisions announced today to determine Sprint’s next steps.”
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T-Mobile
The following statement may be attributed to Kathleen Ham, VP, Federal Regulatory Affairs, T-Mobile US:
“T-Mobile appreciates the FCC’s vote today moving ahead with the incentive auction and spectrum aggregation proceedings. While we would have preferred the FCC to reserve more spectrum for competitive carriers, we are hopeful the auction rules will enhance competition and benefit consumers. We also thank the staff of the FCC for their many months of hard work and look forward to working with the FCC and industry stakeholders toward a successful auction.”
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Union Wireless
The following statement may be attributed to Eric Woody, Chief Technical and Operations Officer at Union Wireless:
“Rural consumers look to carriers like Union to provide the latest mobile broadband services wherever they live, work, or travel. We are pleased to see the FCC adopt rules that allow all carriers to bid on critical low-band spectrum and reserve spectrum to promote competition. Union is excited for the opportunity to participate, so we may continue to expand broadband services. While Cellular Market Areas (CMAs) are the optimal geographic size, we are pleased to see the FCC recognize that spectrum must be offered in sizes smaller than the larger Economic Areas (EAs). The compromise adopted will help all carriers participate in the upcoming auction.”
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U.S. Cellular
The following statement should be attributed to Kenneth Meyers, President & CEO of U.S. Cellular:
“We commend the FCC for its action today in the 600 MHz and the Mobile Spectrum Holdings proceedings. We believe that this auction represents a vital opportunity for wireless carriers to obtain crucial spectrum needed for the deployment of 5G service across our entire operating footprint. That’s why we fought so hard for the ability to bid on all the spectrum blocks made available for auction. Today’s vote is a huge step forward towards what we believe will be a highly successful auction and we fully anticipate playing an important role in that auction. We expect that there will be vigorous bidding for spectrum across the entire country and the FCC’s action today is a win for competition, consumers, and companies of all sizes.”