Background: Verizon yesterday sent a letter to House Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and others proposing new conditions for offering roaming connectivity to other carriers.
The following statement is attributed to Harold Feld, legal director for Public Knowledge:
“We would hope that the days are over when Congress and the FCC preferred begging companies to behave rather than actually protecting consumers and competitors. We need rules of the road that encourage competition and make sure consumers get the service they deserve on all providers — not corporate charity that disappears when regulators are no longer looking. Anyone who responds to this by saying, 'Let’s give the market another chance' needs a serious reality check.
“This is yet another attempt for Verizon to use its version of corporate charity to influence policymakers at a time when substantive, legally binding rules are what is required for fairness. We note that in both cases, the handset-exclusivity terms offered last week, and this one, that parties that are supposed to be the beneficiaries, are not impressed with Verizon's offerings. That should signal policymakers that these are hollow offers.”
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.