CTIA-The Wireless Association® Response to President Obama's Announcement on Broadband

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Jan 14, 2015, 04:15 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement should be attributed to CTIA-The Wireless Association® President and CEO Meredith Attwell Baker:

"CTIA applauds President Obama's recognition that broadband drives economic growth and supports innovation. Today's remarks, however, failed to acknowledge that America's wireless consumers already benefit every day from the dynamic, competitive market that the President seeks, with more than 8 out of 10 Americans having access to at least four wireless broadband providers.

By focusing on government-owned networks, the President missed an important opportunity to promote private wireless broadband investment and the potential for 4G, 5G and fixed wireless solutions to deliver more competitive choice and innovation to rural America. The government can take important steps to facilitate greater private investment by providing the spectrum needed for more robust wireless services, streamlining the process to deploy infrastructure on federal lands and forgoing the Administration's investment-chilling net neutrality proposal.

While the President's stated goal is robust, high-speed broadband for all Americans, his Administration's own policies are at odds with that objective. It was only two months ago when the President urged the FCC to apply antiquated, public-utility regulations to the dynamic mobile ecosystem, which if enacted, would inhibit future capital investment and hinder the deployment of new wireless broadband infrastructure and consumer offerings. Consumers would be further harmed by additional fees and taxes on broadband services under Title II.

The President's focus today on using taxpayer money to compete with commercial providers, which are pouring billions in private capital every year into U.S. broadband infrastructure and jobs, is the wrong path forward. The wireless industry has invested $100 billion in the last four years alone. In such a vigorously competitive market, government-owned networks would only serve to chill private sector investment, tilt the competitive playing field, and harm consumers.

CTIA and the wireless industry remain committed to ensuring that all consumers – regardless of where they live or work – enjoy the benefits of high-speed mobile broadband and live a connected life. We hope we can focus future efforts on ways to promote greater private investment in our broadband future."

CTIA-The Wireless Association® (www.ctia.org) is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. CTIA advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. The association also coordinates the industry's voluntary best practices and initiatives, and sponsors the industry's leading wireless tradeshow. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, D.C.

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