CTIA-The Wireless Association® responds to 700 MHz Comments from Assistant Secretary of Commerce Kneuer

July 26, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC – CTIA-The Wireless Association® issued the following statement today following testimony from U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications Information Administration John Kneuer, during the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee “Preparing Consumers for the Digital Television Transition” hearing. 

‘We agree with the Assistant Secretary that adding any encumbrances to the auction will lead to lower revenues. In contrast, an auction with flexible service rules will create the best environment for maximum consumer benefits and revenue to the U.S. Treasury. Any interested entity is welcome to win spectrum in a fair and competitive auction and adopt whatever business model they choose.  Google isn't a small, struggling company that needs a government subsidy to enter the competitive wireless space, and the special conditions it and others have suggested would only take money out of the pockets of American taxpayers and stuff it into the coffers of a multi-billion dollar corporation. “
 

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CTIA is the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry,
representing carriers, manufacturers and wireless Internet providers.
www.ctia.org