The new year will usher in significant changes to the United States regulatory environment. The Republican-controlled 115th Congress hit the ground running in early January, and shortly thereafter, President Trump moved into the White House, setting the stage for changed Washington policymaking for the next few years. There are new decision makers and a new FCC Chairman, former Commissioner Ajit Pai, at the helm. What hasn’t changed is the need to bring high-speed mobile broadband to all communities in the U.S. – and addressing this should not be lost as new priorities emerge in D.C. To ensure rural communities are not left behind, we must build upon progress to reform the Universal Service Fund (USF), and preserve and expand mobile broadband in rural America, closing the digital divide.
Representing nearly 100 competitive carriers serving rural, regional and nationwide areas of the country, Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is committed to ensuring a competitive wireless industry – no matter which political party sits in the White House or controls the House or Senate. While technology advances every day, many rural and hard-to-reach areas of the United States remain unserved or underserved.
So many aspects of modern life assume an always-on mobile connection. The lack of connectivity is an economic detriment to everyone, especially in the vast area of “fly-over states.” Consumers with little or no access are missing economic, education, health, public safety and social benefits that mobile broadband services bring. These consumers face a serious risk of being left behind in this mobile revolution as technologies evolve at blazing speeds. To meet the needs of all U.S. citizens, policymakers must make it a priority to promote the deployment of mobile broadband in these remote and rural areas, something the USF was designed to do.
Fortunately, Congress and the FCC are already taking steps in the right direction. Chairman Pai has identified broadband in rural America as a top priority for his office, which is very encouraging. Recently a bipartisan group of 30 Senators urged Chairman Pai to focus on closing the digital divide. Additionally, on the first day of the 115th Congress, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) reintroduced the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless (MOBILE NOW) Act. This bipartisan legislation seeks to boost the development of next-generation 5G mobile broadband by ensuring more spectrum is made available for commercial use and streamlining network deployment regulations. The bill also explicitly recognizes the importance of deploying wireless broadband services in rural areas. Senators Thune and Nelson should be commended for their work, and fellow policymakers should follow their lead to ensure the bill ends up on the President’s desk for signature.
While the MOBILE NOW Act is certainly an important step toward addressing current deployment and infrastructure challenges, there are several other policy priorities that will help accelerate deployment of mobile broadband. As the 600 MHz incentive auction concludes, policymakers must ensure that carriers can put this critically important low-band spectrum to use as expeditiously as possible. Low-band spectrum’s unique characteristics allow for superior coverage, especially in rural America, and carriers must promptly have access to this spectrum to upgrade their networks and satisfy consumer demand. Congress has the wisdom to establish a 36-month timeframe for broadcaster relocation payments, establishing the basis for the FCC’s 39-month transition timing. Many rural areas desperately need access to mobile broadband services and should not have to wait any longer than necessary. We all must ensure the transition is safe, efficient and fast.
Competitive carriers are eager to deploy the latest network technology, but the right policies must be in place to support these efforts. CCA encourages policymakers to visit these unserved and underserved areas to see first-hand not only the work that still needs to be done but also the important benefits that high-speed mobile broadband will bring to these communities. Competitive carriers are some of the most innovative companies contributing to the mobile economy because they are dedicated to providing their customers with superior service.
Washington policymakers have the opportunity to create a framework to promote innovation and growth in the mobile market and more broadly throughout America; with policies that encourage competition in the mobile sector, regulators will ensure that all consumers – no matter where they live – can take advantage of this digital revolution so rural and remote areas can thrive. CCA will work cooperatively with the new Congress, Commission and Administration to help ensure rural America’s success.
By: Steven K. Berry, President & CEO, CCA
February 7, 2017
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