CTIA - The Wireless Association® Blog - Cell Phone Coverage

Lost Skier Saved by Cell Phone!

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:15:00 -0500

On this month's WOW we took a trip down a mountain with Michael McKinney a resident of Lake Tahoe, CA. When a snowstorm dumped an enormous amount of fresh powder on the nearby ski slopes, McKinney & his friends couldn't wait to get out and hit the trails last year, but McKinney wound up lost & in serious trouble, until his cell phone came to the rescue. To learn more watch this segment from our November installment of our Wonder of Wireless webcast, and take a few moments to see what else we have to offer in this month's WOW.

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Discussion on Cell Phones in Prisons with Maryland's Secretary Gary Maynard

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:58:00 -0500

The issue of contraband cell phones in prisons is one that CTIA, Congress, FCC, state policymakers, prison officials and public safety are working together to find the best solution that gets the devices out of the prisons without causing problems for public safety or legitimate users.

This morning, Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast (WYPR 88.1 FM, the Baltimore NPR affiliate) aired an interview with Secretary Gary Maynard from the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and me.

While Secretary Maynard and I agreed that getting cell phones out of prisoners' hands was the top priority, CTIA strongly believes that jamming technology is not the answer. Instead, we believe cell detection and managed access technologies are better since they are:

1) lawful
2) currently available
3) do not cause interference for public safety officials or legitimate consumers
4) allow law enforcement to gather intelligence through wiretapping .

We also strongly believe that there needs to be tougher penalties for individuals who possess, provide or support contraband devices.

You can listen to my interview on WYPR 88.1 FM here, and I hope you’ll take some time to learn more about Contraband Cell Phones in Prisons.

Senate Testimony on Contraband Cell Phones in Prisons

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:18:00 -0500

This morning I testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in a hearing on “Contraband Cell Phones in Correctional Facilities: Public Safety Impact and the Potential Implications of Jamming Technologies.”

In my testimony, I emphasized the industry’s commitment to work with Congress, correctional officers and public safety officials to find the right policy and technological solution that won’t harm the public’s legitimate cell phone use outside prisons.

Some of the key points from my testimony included:

While the wireless industry is committed to helping policymakers to solve the problem of contraband phones in correctional institutions, jamming should not be a preferred solution since other economically viable, non-interfering technologies can assist correctional authorities in stopping the use of contraband phones.
Cell detection and managed access technologies are superior and preferred alternatives because they are lawful and currently available solutions that would not cause interference for legal consumers or public safety officials. In addition, these non-interfering technologies would avoid the problems associated with jamming and preserve law enforcement’s ability to gather intelligence through wiretaps.
Imposing tougher penalties for the possession, provision or support of contraband handsets is key to addressing the root of the problem and stopping the supply of such devices in prisons.

My full testimony is available here and I hope you’ll take some time to learn more about Contraband Cell Phones in Prisons.

Wireless Industry's Substantial Contributions to U.S. Economy

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:16:00 -0500

This morning we filed an ex parte with the FCC to highlight the significant contributions the wireless industry is making to aid the revitalization of our short and long-term economic health.

President Barack Obama has made it very clear that broadband is vital for the U.S. In a Washington Post column on February 5, 2009, President Obama said “now is the time to create jobs that remake America for the 21st century by rebuilding aging roads, bridges and levees; designing a smart electrical grid; and connecting every corner of the country to the information superhighway.”

Indeed, as our nation struggles in a fiercely competitive global marketplace to revitalize once unchallenged industries, mobile broadband services bring opportunities, increased productivity and represent a beacon on the path toward renewed economic prosperity.

Highlights of the filing are:

In 2007, U.S. wireless services delivered nearly $100 billion in “value added” contributions to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”).
Going forward, estimates place productivity gains from wireless broadband services at almost $860 billion between 2005 and 2016.

Jobs/Compensation:

Economic contributions of wireless services have grown significantly faster than the rest of the U.S. economy, averaging over 16% growth vs. less than 3% for the remainder of the economy.
Wireless jobs command compensation that is more than 50% higher than the national average of other production workers.
Wireless carriers directly employ more than 268,000 people, a number that has grown more than 6% year-over-year for the last four years.
Beyond direct carrier employment, more than 2.4 million American jobs are either directly or indirectly dependent on the U.S. wireless industry.

Equipment/Network Investment:

Total wireless expenditures on structures and equipment from 1998-2007 amounted to more than $217 billion.
Carriers responding to CTIA’s Semi-Annual Survey reported an average combined investment of more than $22.8 billion per year to upgrade their networks from 2001 through 2008.
As of December 2008, wireless carriers have deployed over 240,000 cell sites across the country.
Clearly, wireless voice and broadband services are major contributors to the U.S. economy through the massive capital investments of wireless providers, by creating high-paying, skilled jobs across the country and with billions of dollars of direct and indirect benefits flowing from the innovative wireless services and applications consumers demand.

To view the filing, please click here .

Insider Interview - Contraband in Prisons

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:57:00 -0500

The issue of using jamming technology to curb illegal use of cell phones by prisoners is discussed by CTIA Vice-President, Regulatory Affairs Chris Guttman-McCabe. McCabe details the industry's desire to work with corrections officials to end the problem in a way that won't interfere with the service of legitimate users in near proximity to facilities. To learn more watch this segment from our June installment of our Wonder of Wireless webcast, and take a few moments to see what else we have to offer in our June WOW.

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U.S. Wireless Leads the World in Value, Competition & Innovation

Tue, 12 May 2009 14:13:00 -0500

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.

Set the Shot Clock

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:14:00 -0500

So, you're a wireless service provider and you want to improve and extend coverage in a service area. To do that, you need to construct a new tower, and with that comes a litany of paperwork, zoning hearings, and various licensing requirements that requires a multitude of legal diligence, perseverance, and patience.... not always in equal parts. It can be an enormously frustrating and tedious process for a carrier, that is often stymied by various zoning entities... county, city, etc., which have mastered the 'delay game'.

How so? Well, there are about 3,300 pending siting applications, and according to a survey CTIA conducted of some of its membership, and about 25% of the applications have been awaiting a decision for more than a year. And in that group, more than 180 applications have been awaiting final action for more than 3 years. That's right, three years for a simple thumbs up, or thumbs down to better coverage for wireless consumers. I know there are many considerations that go into the process, but certainly there has to be a better way.

And there is. The industry is seeking is a common-sense, reasonable solution – it shouldn’t take more than three years to reach a siting decision. The industry supports 45 and 75 day “shot clocks” for siting consideration decisions. We’ve filed a petition with the FCC on the matter, which you can read here.

The FCC is considering the petition, and we believe the proposed timeframe is ample for thorough review of applications and final decisions. There's just no good rationale for needing longer than two-and-a-half months to decide whether a service provider can move forward with its plans, as wireless service providers are sinking billions of dollars into their networks to provide upgraded services to consumers who clearly want more. Wireless data growth is impressive and Americans are increasingly turning to wireless as their preferred new path to the internet. There’s no debate about the growing reliance and use of wireless service and it's only fair to the millions of consumers who want more that common-sense siting policies should be enacted.

Better Coverage? Better be Safe!

Tue, 06 May 2008 17:27:00 -0500

I know it's happened to me before, and it's probably happened to you, too. You're talking just fine on your cell until you get inside an office building or a high-rise of some type, possibly riding up in an elevator, and there goes the signal. There's no doubt coverage is better these days than it used to be. Wireless carriers have added more than 30,000 new towers and cell sites in just the last two years alone. However, this is still physics we're dealing with here, and there are still trouble spots. The New York Times recently ran a story that focused on a new technology called femtocells that at least one carrier is currently deploying to improve coverage in small areas, such as your home. The article went on to mention the use of cell phone repeaters, or boosters, as another possible remedy, saying..

"The presence of boosters on frequencies that belong to the carriers has made them somewhat controversial. The Federal Communications Commission certifies the devices for some purposes, but they recommend contacting your carrier before installing one.

If a person is interested in improving coverage with a booster, “we would encourage that person to first work with his or her wireless carrier to identify a certified device that the carrier also approves of before installing it and using it on the network,” said Robert Kenny, a spokesman for the F.C.C."

It's not only important for someone interested in installing a booster to contact their carrier, it's actually against federal law to do so without your carrier's permission. The Telecommunications Act clearly states that a licensee must approve use of any transmitter in its spectrum, and the reason for that is clear. Improperly installed, a booster might do wonders for your coverage, but wreak absolute havoc with your neighbors'. That could disrupt such important transmissions as emergency calls to 911, and that's one of the primary reasons why protecting the integrity of the network, everyone's network, is important. Using repeaters or boosters on frequencies licensed by the government, without your carriers' consent, means you are violating the terms of the license. So before you take matters into your own hands, make sure you're not doing it at someone else's expense.