Today the CTIA – The Wireless Association issued a statement in response to testimony from U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications Information Administration John Kneuer. This testimony was given today during the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing “Preparing Consumer for the Digital Television Transition.” The CTIA responded to comments made about the 700 MHz bandwidth.

From the CTIA:
‘We agree with the Assistant Secretary that adding any encumbrances to the auction will lead to lower revenues. In contrast, an auction with flexible service rules will create the best environment for maximum consumer benefits and revenue to the U.S. Treasury. Any interested entity is welcome to win spectrum in a fair and competitive auction and adopt whatever business model they choose. Google isn’t a small, struggling company that needs a government subsidy to enter the competitive wireless space, and the special conditions it and others have suggested would only take money out of the pockets of American taxpayers and stuff it into the coffers of a multi-billion dollar corporation.”

We’ll continue to follow both sides of this ongoing issue.

CTIA
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation