Talking Points

In order to get the attention of the FCC or Congress, the best thing to do is to add your own thoughts about this - but here are some talking points.

NOTE: The FCC's filing and comments are designed to stop the AT&T-T-Mobile merger by getting a hearing based on evidence we supplied. The FCC does not have the authority to start wireless divestiture proceedings. Except for a legal action, Congress is the only group that can separate AT&T and Verizon wireless from the broadband/landline wires.

FCC Talking Points: Stop the Mergers. Give Us a Hearing:

  1. I endorse the Teletruth and New Networks Institute Petition to Deny the AT&T-T-Mobile merger and their call for an evidentiary hearing.
  2. We are distressed to learn that AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and other very large wireless companies were able to pose as 'very small businesses' to get an estimated $8 billion dollars in 'small business' discounted wireless spectrum. Before any merger, the FCC should immediately investigate all of the spectrum given to these companies that were designated to go to actual small business competitors.
  3. The FCC's data on the small business wireless spectrum markets has sections from 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001 and this information is in every FCC docket in 2010 -2011. The FCC keeps telling us they are data driven yet they have failed to fix basic information. The FCC is the caretaker of all US wireless spectrum and it should immediately update this data. Is this the reason that $8 billion dollars in small business wireless spectrum was given to the very large wireless companies?
  4. Regulate "Special Access": The FCC has acknowledged that high speed links from the Bell monopoly providers are vital to wireless competition, yet has not taken any actions to correct the Bell market abuses in special access. "Special access" are the lines that connect the wireless company towers or supplies the network for 'broadband'. Excessive AT&T and Verizon profits are one reason why America's broadband is 10 -100 times more expensive that other countries.

Congressional Talking Points: Start Proceedings for a Wireless Divestiture.

  1. I join Teletruth in calling for a wireless divestiture of Verizon and AT&T's wireless assets from their incumbent broadband/landline wires.
  2. Let the wireline and wireless companies really compete, and not collude between the wireline and wireless divisions; it harms the economy and harms customers.
  3. We are distressed to learn that AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and other very large wireless companies were able to pose as 'very small businesses' to get an estimated $8 billion dollars in 'small business' discounted wireless spectrum. Before any merger, Congress should immediately investigate all of the spectrum given to these companies that were designated to go to actual small business competitors.
  4. Congress should investigate the FCC's data on small business wireless spectrum as it can be over 14 years old from 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001. This information is in every FCC docket in 2010 -2011. The FCC is the caretaker of all US wireless spectrum and it should immediately update this data. Is this the reason that $8 billion dollars in small business wireless spectrum was given to the very large wireless companies?
  5. Congress needs to intercede to fix "Special Access" rates. The FCC has acknowledged that high speed links from the Bell monopoly providers are vital to wireless competition, yet has not taken any actions to correct the Bell market abuses in special access. Special access are the lines that connect the wireless company towers or supplies the network for 'broadband'. Excessive AT&T and Verizon profits are one reason why America's broadband is 10 -100 times more expensive that other countries. This problem has been going on for more than a decade and the FCC has been clueless in dealing with the monopoly controls of AT&T and Verizon over the networks' access fees.