This device is how I and millions of other Americans connect to the world around us. I like to say that it’s my personal gateway to the 21st century. Consider what it does today…From the palm of my hand, this is how I email and keep in constant touch with my four kids who are scattered across the country. This allows me to take pictures of my new grand-daughter and send them to family and friends. I can watch Seattle Seahawk game highlights, get updates, read news, store my addresses and phone numbers. It’s my schedule, my watch, my MP3 player, the list goes on and on.
No other communications service can offer what wireless offers. Because of the mobility that wireless gives you, people can conduct their business on the move, from wherever they are. And this has not only made businesses and households more efficient, happy and productive, but it has had an enormously positive impact on public safety, healthcare and homeland security. When you can instantly access the people you need to reach and the information you need to consume – from wherever you are – incredibly positive societal benefits follow.
Wireless Wave: Fair enough. It’s hard to argue that wireless hasn’t captured the world’s imagination. But here you are at 200 million subscribers. How much more growth is possible in the domestic marketplace?
Steve Largent: A lot. Right now in America, wireless has a penetration rate of about 68 percent. But if you look around the world at countries that rely heavily on wireless like Americans do, you’ll see penetration rates in excess of 100 percent. When you add on top of that the fact that the census bureau expects the U.S. population to grow to around 335 million by 2020, the answer is that more growth is clearly ahead of us.
Now, the interesting question is what bar-riers in the form of taxes and/or regulation are potentially in our way that would impede future growth?
Wireless Wave: Asking questions is my job. {laughter} Let’s explore that a little bit. I know that a big part of the wireless argument is that you’re different, you’re not like other telecommunications providers and that regulation should reflect you’re unique status. But if I’m a member of Congress or a state legislator or a regulator, why should I view an email or a phone call or a video clip that comes over my wireless device different from something that comes through a wire?
Steve Largent: That’s a really important question. {pause} I have a short answer and a long answer. Today must be your lucky day…you’re going to get both. The short answer is don’t fix something that isn’t broken. And I think some of my earlier comments are evidence of exactly how much of a consumer success story wireless has been.
Now, let’s talk specifically about what isn’t broken. Thirteen years ago, Congress put forward a regulatory framework for wireless that was unlike any telecommunications framework before it.
