CTIA filed an ex parte today with the FCC that examines how the U.S. wireless industry measures up in the global marketplace. Using data from Merrill Lynch, the filing shows in detail how the U.S. leads the market for wireless services among 26 of the largest OECD countries. Once again, wireless in America is at the forefront in overall value, competition and innovation. Specifically, the U.S. continues to lead the world in minutes-of-use, has the lowest revenue per minute, has the least concentrated wireless market and is the global frontrunner in efficient use of spectrum resources.

Last year we began taking an in-depth look at how wireless in America stacks up against the rest of the world. This came in response to OECD broadband rankings that didn’t include wireless broadband. Our initial research last year found the U.S. leads the world in wireless providing more services for less per minute-of-use than any of the OECD’s top ten countries. Nonetheless, there continues to be a lot of discussion and debate on the state of U.S. wireless service. Today’s filing features clear-cut facts to dispel some of the more popular myths. This ex parte is an update to our prior filing in 2008 and expands the comparisons to 26 countries.  

Here are some of the U.S.-focused highlights:

• The price-per-minute of service is the lowest of the 26 OECD countries tracked by Merrill Lynch.
• Consumers have the highest minutes-of-use per month of the 26 OECD countries tracked y Merrill Lynch.
• The U.S. has the least concentrated market, and accordingly, the lowest HHI.
• At least 33 companies manufacture wireless devices for the U.S. market. 
• Consumers can choose from nearly 630 wireless devices.
• In the last year alone, six different companies have launched or announced application stores, giving consumers access to over 60,000 applications.
• Subscriber counts for high-speed wireless lines more than doubled and advanced wireless service lines more than tripled in the last year. 
• The percentage of consumers actively using mobile Internet capabilities is higher than any other country according to Nielsen.

Additionally, wireless broadband has been the fastest growing segment of the broadband industry according to the latest FCC data.  In 2007 alone, the number of wireless broadband subscribers more than doubled!

Ultimately, this means that U.S. wireless consumers enjoy an unparalleled value in service, driven by the competition and innovation in the wireless industry.  

For more information and to access the entire filing, click here.  

On March 20th, CTIA-The Wireless Association® President & CEO Steve Larget issued the following statement on the introduction of the “Radio Spectrum Inventory Act” (S. 649) in the U.S. Senate:

“I applaud Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) for their sensible spectrum inventory legislation.  We know that additional spectrum will be needed for commercial providers to meet consumers’ increasing appetite for mobile broadband services, and the Kerry-Snowe bill is a good first step toward identifying where that spectrum will come from.  Given the long lead time that is often involved between identifying spectrum for commercial use and moving it to market, this is a very timely proposal.”

Just because we’re in San Francisco this week doesn’t mean the work in Washington stops.  Today CTIA filed an FCC ex parte on behalf of hundreds of  companies expressing united opposition to the adoption of any "free" broadband mandates in the AWS 3 proceeding.

Our position: while any company should be free to voluntarily provide a "free" advertising-based service to consumers, a regulatory mandate for such a service will harm consumers and potentially delay access to next generation broadband services, especially in rural areas. 

A free service will harm consumers?  How?

Think about it:  At best, given a “free” service’s limited revenue opportunity in any market – a case exacerbated in rural areas – the licensee would have little incentive to invest and build-out the service, thereby defeating its original purpose.  At worst, having to compete with a “free” service could potentially drive most competitors out of any market, which means a reduction in broadband choice and availability.  The FCC will have essentially provided a disincentive for other companies to deploy broadband networks at a time when it should be promoting broadband build-out. 

We know that tailoring auction rules to a specific company's business plan won’t increase broadband adoption in the United States – recall the recent D Block debacle.  The US broadband market is already intensely competitive and is characterized by intra and intermodal competition, multiple business plans and innovative service packages.  

If the Commission wants to see further US broadband adoption, it should seriously consider the multiple currently pending proceedings aimed at doing just that. 

Late last week, CTIA President & CEO, Steve Largent sent aletter to the FCC that discussed the wireless-related Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) complaint category. This category is associated with autodialing, live or recorded telemarketing calls and “unsolicited commercial e-mail messages to cell phones, pagers, and other wireless telecommunications devices.” 

In its letter CTIA highlighted wireless carriers’ extensive consumer protection efforts and initiatives.  The letter also emphasized carriers’ continued commitment to work with both the FCC and Congress in protecting consumers from unwanted content. 

Read the letter by clicking here!