Data roaming mandate remains hot topic

The lack of mandated data roaming remains a hot topic for just about every domestic operator outside of AT&T Mobility (T) and Verizon Wireless (VZ), highlighted by the continuous push by these operators and trade organizations in garnering government action behind their cause.
This continued today during a media event attended by a number of concerned parties seeking to shed further light on the issue. Highlighting the extent of concern, the companies involved in the event included Sprint Nextel Corp., T-Mobile USA Inc., MetroPCS Communications Inc. and Leap Wireless International Inc., as well as the Rural Cellular Association, Rural Telecommunications Group and the Computer & Communications Industry Association.
Most of those on hand agreed that while the issue of mandating data roaming could be perceived as a competition issue and thus not something that needs to be regulated, they said the issue was actually a consumer issue.
“Rural customers are having to buy two phones,” noted Carri Bennet, general counsel for RTG, which represents a number of rural carriers with less than 10,000 customers. Bennet added that the lack of data roaming also impacts urban customers who might not be able to access the services provided by their mobile devices when outside of coverage areas of larger carriers.
The issue of data roaming is also a mixed bag depending on a carrier’s technology choice. Many CDMA operators have been able to piece together nationwide footprints for 3G services due to the greater number of smaller operators that have launched rural CDMA networks. However, for GSM-based carriers it’s a different story.
Kathleen Ham, VP of Federal Regulatory at T-Mobile USA Inc., noted that the nation’s No. 4 operator currently only has a 2G roaming agreement with AT&T Mobility.
While many of those that participated were still fighting for access to 3G data services, a major focus of the event was how the lack of 4G data roaming could impact President Obama’s plans to expand broadband services to 98% of the nation’s population.
The group also noted that the lack of 4G data roaming could also have an impact on future voice services as carriers begin to move their voice offerings to their data networks. Many of those in attendance noted that both Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility have stated plans to launch Voice over LTE services in the coming years.
Looking to point out some of the hypocrisy from larger operators, RCA President and CEO Steven Berry played a tape of an interview AT&T Inc. CEO Randall Stephenson recently gave in Europe noting that interoperability and openness were paramount for the continued growth in the mobile industry. Stephenson’s comments used the example of text messaging that he stated only really started to take off once the service became something that customers could use across networks.
There was also concern expressed that with the proliferation of data-centric healthcare devices like heart monitors, a lack of data roaming agreements could put customers at risk.
As for further pressure, some mentioned that they were looking at possible talking with the Justice Department to take a look into whether the issue could be something beyond the scope of just regulatory intervention. RTG’s Bennett noted that it might look into such a possibility in the coming months.
While the assembled group was united in their passion regarding the lack of data roaming mandates, a number of rural operators are moving in a different direction. Verizon Wireless has said a half dozen rural operators have signed onto its LTE in Rural America program designed to expand network coverage through partnerships with rural operators. The program allows rural carriers to tap into Verizon Wireless nationwide 700 MHz spectrum holdings to build out LTE networks in their rural markets in exchange for reciprocal roaming agreements.