CTIA - The Wireless Association® Blog - CTIA Position

CTIA Statement on Testifying Before the FCC's Distracted Driving Staff Workshop

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:25:00 -0500

Today, I issued the following statement after appearing on a panel at the FCC's Distracted Driving Staff Workshop:

"We appreciated the opportunity to discuss this important issue at the FCC.

"Over the last few months, CTIA and our members have participated in several Congressional hearings, developed a teen-focused anti-texting and driving campaign, and spoken with numerous stakeholders to discuss ways our industry can help stop distracted driving.

“I want to reiterate our support of bans on manual texting and emailing while driving. We also believe in mobile device restrictions for teen and novice drivers so they can better focus on learning how to be better drivers.

"We support technological advancements, but caution that they cannot be based on inflexible mandates that could stifle innovation. They must also be affordable and consumer-friendly.

"Finally, we will continue our focus on educating drivers of all ages about safe driving and responsible wireless use. Most recently, CTIA partnered with the National Safety Council this year to release our teen-focused ‘On the Road, Off the Phone’ campaign with a TV public service announcement and Web site.

“CTIA and our members look forward to working with the FCC as well as other policymakers and stakeholders at all levels to address the dangers of distracted driving."

For more information about the CTIA and NSC "On the Road, Off the Phone" campaign, please visit: www.onroadoffphone.org.

CTIA Statement on the FCC's Approval of a "Shot Clock" for Tower Siting

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:52:00 -0500

Today, I issued the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to approve a "shot clock" for tower siting applications:

"On behalf of CTIA and the wireless industry, I would like to thank the Commission for moving ahead with this item. The Chairman's leadership and the efforts of the other Commissioners have given us a foundation for our continued deployment of wireless broadband.

"Tower siting is a vital piece of our industry. It enables mobile services, including voice and broadband, for consumers, public safety, and businesses. Both Congress and the Supreme Court recognized the importance of taking concrete steps to ensure that the zoning process does not become a barrier to the reasonable deployment of, and competition among, diverse wireless networks.

"In early October at our International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment Show, the Chairman declared his support for CTIA’s request for a tower siting 'shot clock' that would require state and local zoning authorities to act within a reasonable, fixed timeframe on wireless tower siting requests. Fast forward to today's meeting when the Commission provided much-needed certainty to the process by setting a reasonable review period and clarifying that a zoning authority may not deny an application filed by one provider based on the presence of another wireless provider in the area. We sincerely appreciate the Commission and the Chairman for quickly acting to fulfill this promise.

"CTIA and the wireless industry look forward to continuing to work with the Commission, state and local zoning authorities and others involved in tower siting to provide more Americans with the most advanced wireless services and technology on the planet."

Driving Safety

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:28:00 -0500

Texting and driving don't mix, and CTIA supports laws that make texting while driving illegal. Learn more about the industry's safe driving positions and watch our new public service announcement aimed at helping parents to tell their teens, when you're on the road, get off the phone. 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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CTIA Statement on Today's Universal Service Fund Hearing

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:11:00 -0500

Today, I issued the following statement after the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet's hearing on the "Universal Service Reform Act of 2009." The bill is sponsored by Chairman Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Representative Lee Terry (R-NE):

"CTIA welcomes the effort by Chairman Boucher and Congressman Terry to reform the way that universal service funds are collected and distributed. As this bill moves forward, we urge Congress to work toward competitively neutral reforms that target support to where it is truly needed."

Testimony Highlights from House Energy & Commerce Joint Subcommittee Hearing on Distracted Driving

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:29:00 -0500

Today I testified before the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittees on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection and on Communications, Technology and the Internet in a joint hearing called “Driven To Distraction: Technological Devices and Vehicle Safety.”

While you can read my testimony and the statement, here are some of the key points. We believe there are three components to making safer drivers and safer roads. They are:

Legislation: The wireless industry joins Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in supporting a state and local ban on manual texting and emailing while driving. In fact, we are working with the National Conference of State Legislatures, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and other state organizations to craft model legislation that could be adopted across the country that would prohibit this activity. In addition, the industry supports restrictions on provisional or novice drivers from using their wireless devices while driving.
Technology: We support technological advancements, but caution that they cannot be based on inflexible mandates that could stifle innovation. They must also be affordable and consumer-friendly.
Education: Last, but most importantly, CTIA and the wireless industry have a longstanding commitment and support to educating all drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. For almost 10 years, the association and many of our members have independently developed educational campaigns. We’ve launched several TV and radio public service announcement (PSA) campaign on safe driving. Most recently, CTIA and the National Safety Council launched our teen-focused “On the Road, Off the Phone” campaign.

Please tell everyone you know that no one should be texting and emailing while driving. It will lead to safer drivers and safer roads for all of us.

CTIA Statement on Testifying Before House Hearing On "Addressing the Problem of Distracted Driving"

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:09:00 -0500

Today, CTIA’s Executive Vice President Bobby Franklin issued the following statement after his testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit hearing on "Addressing the Problem of Distracted Driving":

"CTIA and the wireless industry appreciated the opportunity to participate at the House hearing on this very important issue. With so many Americans relying on mobile devices as a great safety tool, it's important to remind consumers that there is an appropriate time and inappropriate time to use them.

"Legislation, technology and education are three vital components that we believe are needed to develop safer drivers and safer roads. CTIA believes that manual texting and emailing while driving are incompatible with safe driving and join Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in supporting a state and local ban on this activity. In fact, we are working with the National Conference of State Legislatures, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and other state organizations to craft model legislation that could be adopted across the country that would prohibit manual texting and emailing while driving.

"We also support technological advancements, but caution that they cannot be based on inflexible mandates that could stifle innovation. They must also be affordable and consumer-friendly.

"Finally, we are proud of our long-standing educational activities, including our recent partnership with the National Safety Council to launch a teen-focused campaign, ‘On the Road, Off the Phone.' As part of the campaign, we developed a Web site and a television public service announcement which has been viewed thousands of times since we launched last month.

"CTIA and our members look forward to continuing to work with policymakers and stakeholders at all levels to combat distracted driving."

For more information about the CTIA and NSC "On the Road, Off the Phone" campaign, please visit: www.onroadoffphone.org.

Policymakers Say It's Time for a Tower Siting Shot Clock

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:56:00 -0500

While we have a fierce net neutrality debate within the wireless telecom and technology industries, the one thing we all agree on is that America’s appetite for mobile broadband services is increasing at a rapid pace. At CTIA, we like to call it the “virtuous cycle” where the multiple players within our ecosystem (such as a device manufacturer or network provider or app developer) are constantly investing, innovating, and competing in order to keep up with consumer demand.

But, all of the cool apps, faster speeds, new devices and other innovations from the wireless industry are in jeopardy unless we get more spectrum and improve the tower siting process.

We’ve heard a lot about the brewing spectrum crisis, but why is tower siting just as important? To expand their service offerings and meet consumer demand for “always-on” broadband, wireless carriers need to be able to build out their networks, which involves constructing new towers or adding new equipment to already existing structures.

Today, there is no timeframe for local zoning authorities to act on tower siting applications. CTIA surveyed our members and found that they collectively had more than 3,300 wireless siting applications pending before local jurisdictions. Of those, approximately nearly a quarter have been in queue for more than a year, and more than 180 such applications have been awaiting final action for more than 3 years. That’s just silly in a country that wants to expand broadband access and put people to work.

To remedy this problem, the industry is asking for a common-sense, reasonable solution that would establish 45 and 75 day “shot clocks” for zoning authorities to act on tower siting applications. You can read our petition with the FCC on the matter here.

During FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s keynote remarks earlier this month at International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009®, he pledged his support and commitment for getting the industry more spectrum and a tower siting shot clock. These are big – and complementary – steps that will help ensure that the U.S. maintains its world leadership in wireless.

Last week, U.S. Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and George Radanovich (R-CA), Co-Chairs of the House Wireless Caucus, sent a letter to Chairman Genachowski commending his commitment to setting a shot-clock on tower siting and calling on the Commission to act as quickly as possible on this petition. We applaud Representatives Inslee and Radanovich for staking out this pro-broadband, pro-investment, pro-jobs position, and we look forward to working with them and Chairman Genachowksi to get it done.

CTIA Statement on the FCC's NPRM on Net Neutrality

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:03:00 -0500

I issued the following statement today in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on net neutrality:

“We are pleased that Chairman Genachowski and the Commission acknowledge that ‘wireless is different,’ and that as part of the NPRM, the Commission will investigate ‘how, when, and to what extent’ the rules should apply to the mobile wireless broadband platform.

“We agree wireless is different, and believe that whatever the case may be for applying rules to other platforms, applying these rules to mobile wireless broadband services during a period of dynamic innovation and change in the wireless ecosystem could have significant unintended consequences. Consumers benefit when innovation can occur BOTH at the edge and in the network. Rules that could impact the ecosystem from continuing to evolve, such as the ability of wireless carriers, device makers, and applications developers to optimize their devices, applications, and networks to work together will stifle innovation and harm consumers.

“Further, the imposition of net neutrality rules will degrade the value of unencumbered licenses purchased in the most recent auctions and threaten the integrity of the auction process. The FCC considered ‘openness’ requirements in the 700 MHz auction and chose to apply those requirements to a single block of spectrum. To extend that requirement, and more, now would raise serious legal issues and threaten the integrity of future auctions.

“We appreciate the extended comment period established by the Commission and its commitment to improving its understanding of the complex process of managing networks. Our member companies work every day to provide customers with a positive mobile broadband experience. We look forward to working with the Chairman and the Commission to ensure that Commission policies do not unintentionally harm the mobile wireless ecosystem and wireless consumers.”

CTIA Response to Internet & Tech Companies CEOs & Founders on Net Neutrality

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:57:00 -0500

In response to a letter from 24 CEOs and founders from some of the leading Internet and technology companies to the FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, I issued the following statement:

"This morning, 24 CEOs and founders from some of the leading Internet and technology companies sent a letter to FCC Chairman Genachowski on net neutrality.

"In their letter, they said, 'Entrepreneurs, technologists, and venture capitalists have previously been able to develop new online products and services with the guarantee of neutral, nondiscriminatory access by users, which has fueled an unprecedented era of economic growth and creativity. Existing businesses have been able to leverage the power of the Internet to develop innovative product lines, reach new consumers, and create new ways of doing business.'

"I do not believe we could have said it any better than the way that they did when they closed their letter by saying, ’America’s leadership in the technology space has been due, in large part, to the open Internet.’

"The wireless industry could not agree more. The FCC should preserve the existing wireless Internet that has fostered tremendous innovations, provided broadband for more people, and enabled new businesses. We should all be mindful of the dangers of unintended consequences coming from new rules implemented for the wireless Internet. The fact is that wireless is different than wireline and there's no need to change what these CEOs acknowledged is working well."

CTIA asks FCC: More Spectrum Please

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:03:00 -0500

It’s been a busy time for us at CTIA this week with FCC filing deadlines, Hill activities, Distracted Driving Summit and of course, our International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment show next week.

But on Tuesday, we submitted a very important ex parte filing to the FCC requesting more spectrum because, to put it simply, it is the backbone of our industry.

It’s not something that most people think about, but it’s what allows the wireless industry to create and develop the great things that you and I take for granted everyday. As Steve said in his statement about the filing, spectrum drives the innovation and competition.

In our filing, this was the first time we had suggested a specific amount of spectrum to be identified and allocated. We said that the goal should be at least 800 MHz of additional spectrum over the next six years. We also requested policymakers to meet short-term spectrum needs by pairing and allocating readily-available spectrum.

To read the filing, please click here.

Here are a few of the media stories on our filing:

mobihealthnews, CTIA to FCC: More spectrum for mHealth
WIRED, Wireless group tells FCC: Show us the spectrum
Broadcasting & Cable, CTIA wants more spectrum
WirelessWeek, CTIA Petitions FCC for More Spectrum
mocoNews.net, CTIA To FCC: Without More Wireless Spectrum, ‘Demand May Outpace Supply’

National Safety Council & CTIA Announce Campaign to Educate Teens on Distracted Driving Dangers

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:47:00 -0500

Very early this morning, the National Safety Council (NSC) and CTIA revealed their "On the Road, Off the Phone" campaign that is targeting teens and novice drivers to educate them on the dangers of distracted driving.

As part of the campaign, we've developed a television public service announcement (PSA) and a website that provides parents and teens with information to learn more about distracted driving.

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Teens and novice drivers are the most inexperienced drivers, and statistics show that they are most likely to be involved in vehicle crashes caused by distracted driving. This is also a group that relies on their wireless devices to talk and text. We believe educating them on responsible driving will make them better drivers now – and as they continue into adulthood.

We are proud to continue our relationship with NSC on this very important issue and we hope you find it useful. Tell your teens – "On the Road, Off the Phone."

The Small Business Take on Cell Tax Fairness: Give Consumers a 5-Year Break from New Wireless Taxes

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:50:00 -0500

Yesterday I posted an interview I had done with Bill Rys, Counsel for Tax Policy at the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) on listed property. Today, we’re talking about the unfair taxes and fees wireless consumers pay.

Our groups have a lot in common when it comes to fighting excessive wireless taxes and fees. State and local governments levy regressive taxes and unnecessary fee hikes which add up and for business, they can really affect productivity and impact the bottom line. It's hard to understate the importance of affordable and accessible wireless service in the current economy for consumers and small business owners.

An American wireless consumer now pays on average more than 15% on their monthly bill in wireless taxes, fees and surcharges. That's more than twice the average tax rate imposed on the sale of other goods and services, which is about 6%. And for a small business owner, that effect is multiplied even further.

Fortunately, both sides of Congress are currently working to pass strong bi-partisan legislation called the “Cell (or Mobile Wireless) Tax Fairness Act of 2009” (S. 1192 and H.R. 1521), that would put a five-year freeze on all new, discriminatory state and local wireless taxes and fees.

Listen to what Bill had to say about the “Cell Tax Fairness Act” and how it’d impact the nation's small business community.

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We certainly appreciate Bill's time for coming by to discuss these important issues, and also we want to thank the NFIB for their willingness to engage on these pro-business, pro-consumer, anti-tax legislative measures currently being considered before the 111th Congress. We look forward to continuing to work with them this year and beyond, to see this legislation pass through Congress and ultimately become law.

To learn more about wireless tax issues, please click here.

To take action by contacting your elected officials, please click here.

The Small Business Viewpoint on Listed Property: IRS Taxation of Employer-Provided Devices

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:42:00 -0500

A couple of weeks ago, I spoke with Bill Rys, Counsel for Tax Policy at the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), about a couple of tax issues that are important to both their membership and the wireless industry. The NFIB is a small business advocacy association, based in Washington, D.C., with more than 300,000 members around the country and representation in all 50 states.

The first issue we are working on together is known as listed property. There is currently strong support to update the archaic and outdated IRS tax treatment of employer-provided wireless devices. Right now, the law says that if you use that cell phone for personal reasons (such as calls, emails, texts), it’s a fringe benefit and is subject to income tax. As an employee, you’re supposed to keep a detailed ledger of every personal call you make, and as an employer, you're supposed to report that usage for tax purposes. Sounds like a real hassle for all NFIB members, and certainly adds a lot of government red tape.

The good news is that bi-partisan legislation called the “M.O.B.I.L.E Act” from both sides of Congress (S. 144 and H.R. 690) has been introduced to remove wireless devices from the IRS listed property rules. In addition to strong Congressional support, IRS Commissioner Shulman and Treasury Secretary Geithner have voiced their support for repealing this measure.

I asked Bill how his membership feels about the listed property tax law and what NFIB is doing to help repeal this IRS rule.

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CTIA Statement on FCC Chairman Genachowski's Address on New Guidelines for the Internet

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:09:00 -0500

I issued the following statement today in response to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s address on new guidelines for the Internet:

“While we are waiting to read the contents of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), we welcome the Chairman's interest in wireless and his commitment to pose a series of detailed questions on how the Internet openness principles should apply to mobile broadband.

“As we have said before, we are concerned about the unintended consequences Internet regulation would have on consumers considering that competition within the industry has spurred innovation, investment, and growth for the U.S. economy.

“As a justification for the adoption of rules, the Chairman suggested that one reason for concern ‘has to do with limited competition among service providers.’ This is at the core of our concerns. Unlike the other platforms that would be subject to the rules, the wireless industry is extremely competitive, extremely innovative, and extremely personal. How do the rules apply to the single-purpose Amazon Kindle? How does it apply to Google’s efforts to cache content to provide a better consumer experience? How about the efforts from Apple and Android, Blackberry and Nokia, Firefly and others to differentiate the products and services they develop for consumers? Should all product and service offerings be the same?

“Regarding spectrum investment, the Commission need only look at the results of the 700 MHz auction to understand the impact on investment. The C Block rules, which included an open requirement, had only two bidders, and sold for significantly less. The other licenses, which sold for significantly more, were sold with the promise that the spectrum would not be subject to the open rules. Now the Commission is considering changing the rules after the auction -- impacting companies’ confidence in the auction process -- just as carriers are facing a brewing spectrum crisis.”

For more information on Net Neutrality/Internet Regulation, please click here.

CTIA Statement on "The Health Effects of Cell Phone Use" Hearing

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:57:00 -0500

I issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Hearing on “The Health Effects of Cell Phone Use:”

“CTIA and the wireless industry are deeply committed to safety and to providing timely, accurate information to consumers about wireless phones. When it comes to the facts about cell phones and health-related effects, the industry relies on the conclusions of impartial groups such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Cancer Society, and the National Institute of Health, which have all concluded that the scientific evidence to date does not demonstrate any adverse health effects associated with the use of wireless phones.

“In July 2009, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) released a statement addressing the current scientific evidence concerning exposure to high frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF), including frequencies used for modern wireless communications. It said the scientific literature ‘provided no evidence of any adverse effects below the basic restrictions and does not necessitate an immediate revision of its guidance on limiting exposure to high frequency electromagnetic fields.’

“There has been significant research conducted on the issue of whether there is a link between wireless phone use and health effects. Much has been completed and more continues today. CTIA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently examined scientific questions about radiofrequency (RF) energy pursuant to a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The FDA, not industry, was responsible for the research performed under the CRADA.

“All wireless devices must adhere to strict emissions guidelines in the United States, which have been developed under a thorough and rigorous review process. All wireless base station antennas and phones must meet the science-based, RF emission guidelines of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has established very conservative limits to ensure that the health of all citizens is protected. The FCC maintains a database that provides the SAR value for cellular phones sold in the United States.”

For more information on mobile phone health, please visit: