CTIA Debated Public Interest Group on Net Neutrality

After the net neutrality debate with Public Knowledge this morning at the National Press Club, we issued the following release. CTIA's Chris Guttman-McCabe participated in the debate and highlighted the industry’s concerns of the rules and their unintended consequences and why wireless networks are different.   

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, CTIA-The Wireless Association® hosted public interest group Public Knowledge’s President & Co-founder Gigi Sohn, in a lively net neutrality debate at the National Press Club. Moderated by CNET NEWS/CBS Interactive Senior Writer Marguerite Reardon, CTIA’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Guttman-McCabe raised concerns about the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) proposed net neutrality rules including the unintended consequences that the rules would have on the wireless industry and why they should recognize the inherent differences between wireless and wireline networks.

“As I said in the debate, if these rules are enacted, their impact would go well beyond what the FCC has envisioned – fundamentally changing the wireless industry in a negative way. This debate was important for us to help inform the FCC, Congress, and stakeholders about why it’s so vital that net neutrality policies do not unintentionally harm the mobile wireless ecosystem and wireless consumers,” Guttman McCabe said. “We appreciated Ms. Sohn’s participation to talk about this important issue.” 

Specifically, Guttman-McCabe emphasized the following key points:

• Net neutrality rules will have unintended consequences. Similar to the FCC’s decision to impose “open access” obligations on the 700 MHz C Block license, the imposition of net neutrality on wireless will inject uncertainly into the market and have an impact on investment. This could ultimately harm consumers by impacting what is the most competitive wireless market on the planet.
• Wireless networks are different. Wireless networks are inherently different than the networks for which the Broadband Policy Statement and the subsequent net neutrality rules were developed. The FCC has consistently acknowledged such a difference and as such should recognize the unique aspects of wireless that militate against applying wireline net neutrality rules to a wireless world. Without the ability to adapt, evolve, and respond to the changing wireless environment through reasonable network management, a consumer’s intensive network use can harm all other users in the vicinity.
• The proposed net neutrality rules ignore the realities of wireless network management. Because of the inherent technological differences, wireless carriers actively manage their networks to both ensure the highest-quality Internet experience for all consumers – not only the few who demand inordinate amounts of bandwidth and capacity – and to ensure that services that are time-sensitive are given the resources to function properly.
• Wireless carriers compete vigorously on network quality and capacity. One need look no further than the advertising campaigns of wireless providers to see that coverage, capacity and quality of wireless broadband service is a major area of competition and differentiation for wireless providers. Carriers compete vigorously to win customers in this vibrant marketplace and do so by competing on nearly every aspect of service. Reducing wireless broadband network management to a lowest common denominator set of practices will reduce or eliminate this important competitive aspect of wireless broadband resulting in less innovation and choice for consumers.
• Regulation of one area will impact all parts of the interdependent wireless ecosystem. The FCC’s proposed rules suggest that regulation of broadband Internet access providers will ensure the open nature of the Internet. However, as CTIA and the FCC have stated, wireless broadband is part of a complex ecosystem. For this reason, policymakers should be wary of the unintended consequences of altering the interaction between those ecosystem elements. 

To watch the recorded Webcast of the debate, please click here. And, to learn more about net neutrality,  please click here.