FCC Says Data Roaming Rules On the Table

Responding to the inquiries of U.S. senators, the Federal Communications Commission has decided that it needs to enact rules governing how carriers negotiate data roaming. In a statement, FCC chair Julius Genachowski said, "After an extensive review of the record, the FCC staffhas concluded -- and I agree -- that a data roaming rule is necessary to ensure vibrant competition in the mobile marketplace, to unleash billions of dollars of investment that is currently sidelined, to create thousands of new jobs and to meet the consumer demand for seamless nationwide coverage, be it for voice or data. The record contains abundant evidence from both national and rural businesses that a data roaming rule is necessary to achieve these important goals because some providers have been unwilling to negotiate either 30 or 40 data roaming agreements or have created long delays or taken other steps to impede healthy competition and roaming for consumers. Moreover, as the mobile world moves to LTE, the Commission's basic bipartisan voice roaming rules will be in jeopardy, as they will no longer ensure automatic voice roaming. Based on these factors, today I am circulating to my colleagues a draft order for
consideration that requires a facilities-based provider of commercial mobile data services to offer roaming arrangements to other such providers on commercially reasonable terms and conditions, subject to various limitations designed to account for and protect the legitimate interests of the companies that would be providing roaming." In theory, if the FCC does pass legislation requiring that roaming agreements for mobile data be set, it should benefit the American public. (follow link to read)

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