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Public Knowledge Says Buying Off T-Mobile Does Not Cure Verizon/SpectrumCo Deal(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Public Knowledge issued the following news release: The following may be attributed to Harold Feld, Senior Vice President: "That Verizon Wireless feels the need to buy off T-Mobile to close its spectrum/marketing deals with the country's largest cable operators underscores just how bad this deal really is for American consumers and competition generally. As Public Knowledge has consistently pointed out, the true danger lies not only in the concentration of spectrum in the hands of the leading wireless provider, but with the cozy, cartel-like arrangements between Verizon, Comcast, and the other MSOs party to the deal. "The proposed license transfer from Verizon Wireless to T-Mobile does nothing to address the ability of Verizon and its cable partners to use its marketing and research agreements to develop a patent portfolio capable of bringing the mobile patent wars from handsets to online video. Nor does it address the ability of these supposed competitors to block new forms of competition through Wi-Fi offload, Wi-Fi roaming, and control over the backhaul market. The parties cannot justify creating a web of anti-competitive agreements and tools for future anti-competitive collusion by divesting a handful of licenses. "Public Knowledge reminds the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it must make sure every license transfer serves the public interest. Whether or not a handful of private carriers pronounce themselves satisfied, the FCC and the Department of Justice must both ensure that all aspects of this deal -- both the spectrum transfer and the resale agreements -- do not undermine competition in either the mobile or wireline broadband and video markets." TNS MkTanz120626JF78-3926574 StaffFurigay (c) 2012 Targeted News Service [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] |