Among the thousands of letters piling up at the FCC as the impending 700 MHz spectrum auction nears, was one from the CTIA, in which it represents 139 small and regional operators and wireless organizations. The letter calls upon the FCC to forgo Chairman Kevin Martin's proposal to impose "open access" requirements on 22 of the 60 MHz of spectrum that will be on the auction block at the beginning of next year.
CTIA's letter urges the commission to "refrain from imposing" open access conditions on spectrum "critically needed" by small, regional carriers, saying that the mandate would deter larger carriers from bidding on the spectrum, forcing them to compete with local carriers on the lower bands of spectrum.
The letter also says that consumers, particularly those in rural areas, would be most hurt by the imposition of open access requirements, "Ultimately, we believe that the undersigned small carriers and the millions of consumers we serve will be the net losers from an open access requirement…The proposed open access requirements trade the benefits of rural deployment…for-at best-speculative gains of an open access network."
The FCC has yet to formally announce any rules regarding the upcoming auction. Though Martin's initial proposal was leaked last week, the other four commissioners have yet to respond to it. Undoubtedly, there will be more dire predictions from both sides of the debate, well before we get down to auction time.