IP: Wireless Quality Issues Crop Up

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
>
> Wireless Quality Issues Crop Up  By Allyson Vaughan
> December 13, 2001
> <http://article.WirelessWeek.com/UM/T.ASP?A3.3.392.8.460395446>
>
> WASHINGTON - Despite consumer complaints about coverage, the FCC does not 
> need to regulate the quality of wireless, says FCC Commissioner Kathleen 
> Abernathy. Abernathy's comments are in response to an article published 
> today in USA Today on spotty wireless phone coverage.
>
> "Consumers sometimes get frustrated. [But] At this point I don't see a 
> need for regulatory intervention," given the robust competition in the 
> industry, she said at a Practising Law Institute telecommunications policy 
> and regulation conference in Washington.
>
> Wireless quality issues have surfaced because of the industry's success, 
> she says, noting that the number of subscribers, which CTIA estimates is 
> about 127 million, continues to grow. Networks were designed for a certain 
> capacity and given the popularity of wireless, "we're straining on 
> capacity now," Abernathy says. The industry is moving to digital and 
> increasing the number of cell sites to handle traffic, she notes.
>
> The FCC, which does not oversee service quality, only recently started 
> keeping data specifically related to wireless complaints. Earlier this 
> year, Tom Sugrue, FCC wireless bureau chief, said that the wireless 
> division is working with the consumer information bureau to better 
> organize consumer complaints.
>
> Meanwhile, Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., introduced legislation earlier 
> this year to require the FCC to publish information on service complaints.
>
> Rep. Billy Tauzin, chairman of the U.S House of Representatives energy and 
> commerce committee, cancelled his speech at the conference today to work 
> on a broadband bill that he is sponsoring. The bill would ease regulatory 
> restrictions on local phone giants as a way to foster deployment of 
> broadband services.

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