The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
at its meeting today adopted two notices of proposed rulemaking. One would require carriers to make certain
their devices operating in the 700 MHz band could be used on each other’s
network. The other would open up
spectrum for Dish Network to offer a terrestrial service.
The following is attributed to Harold Feld,
legal director of Public Knowledge:
“We are pleased the FCC has started down
the path to help consumers by furthering competition. Consumers should be able to use expensive
smartphones operating on the newest, fastest, spectrum bands on any carrier’s
service, and not have to buy another phone if they change companies.
“In addition, the Commission is encouraging
broadband competition by opening up terrestrial satellite spectrum for another
potential competitor to help consumers.”