RCA pushes FCC, Congress on data roaming, interoperability

The Rural Cellular Association is pushing Congress and the Federal Communications Commission to mandate automatic data roaming between wireless carriers and to regulate 700 MHz equipment so that it is interoperable, two moves the trade group say are imperative to keeping rural wireless operators in business.
Data roaming
RCA sent letters earlier this month to all members of Congress asking that the automatic voice roaming requirement be extended to data services so that consumers can access their home carrier’s data services wherever they travel. RCA thought the proposal would be taken up at the agency’s December meeting, said RCA President and CEO Steven Berry. However, the issue is not on the agenda. “We’re disappointed. This has been one of our oxygen issues – the top three or four – for the year.” The FCC April 21 issued a second notice of proposed rulemaking on automatic data roaming.
Berry argued that the very landscape of the wireless industry should mandate roaming because the FCC chose to auction spectrum in smaller chunks. Operators in those smaller, often rural, regions have to rely on roaming for their customers to get access outside of their home network. While the FCC mandated voice roaming, it has not extended that authority to data, and Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility are only interested in roaming deals when it benefits them, Berry charged.
“Without data roaming, smaller carriers will be unable to attract the customers necessary to maintain current networks or invest in expanded broadband coverage,” the association wrote to Congress. “It is the operation and construction of these competing networks that creates jobs and protects consumers. Consumers in small and rural communities whose home carriers are less likely to have a national footprint will feel the greatest impacts without data roaming.”
Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility have stated to the FCC that the marketplace is working without more government regulation.
In a Nov. 23 letter to the commission, AT&T said: “As these latest ex parte submissions vividly confirm, the regulation proponents’ true complaint is not that they are unable to obtain data roaming agreements, but that they would prefer the commission to dictate rates and terms rather than negotiate in this fully functioning commercial marketplace.”
Berry said RCA is not asking for rates and terms.
In an FCC filing, VZW noted that it has completed roaming agreements with about 75% of operators that have asked for it. Berry said the fact that 25% of those partners don’t have agreements is unconscionable.
700 MHz interoperability
The entities are also fighting about 700 MHz interoperability requirements. Responding to Verizon’s Dec. 1 ex parte notice in which VZW asked the commission to dismiss the 700 MHz interoperability petition, RCA again asked the FCC to mandate interoperability in the 700 MHz spectrum band. “Without interoperability throughout the 700 MHz spectrum, Lower A Block licensees ready to deploy 4G mobile broadband services throughout the nation will be unable to launch their LTE networks,” RCA said. “Verizon’s claims that Cellular South’s partnership with Samsung has solved the interoperability problems facing Lower A Block licensees are economically and technically incorrect.”
At issue here is the fact that Verizon Wireless is operating its LTE network on the 700 MHz band 13 spectrum, while AT&T is asking device manufacturers to support the 700 MHz band 17, while other 700 MHz license holders are planning to use band 12.
“Rural and regional carriers still cannot acquire interoperable equipment at economically competitive prices, which allows the large carriers to continue to eliminate as many competitors as possible,” RCA said in its filing.?