CTIA Statement in Advance of Submitting Its Net Neutrality Reply Comments

In advance of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Net Neutrality Reply Comment deadline today, I issued the following statement:

“As we have said many times before and will continue to state, net neutrality rules should not apply to the wireless industry. What is the harm that these rules are trying to address? Consumers are being served and the industry is investing, innovating and thriving. Whether it’s with new applications, devices or uses such as for mLearning, mHealth, smart grids and more, our members are fiercely competing with one another to serve every single customer. With hundreds of new and smart devices being launched first in the United States, almost 250,000 applications, the fastest Internet speeds and the lowest price per minute, why would we risk the uncertainty that absolutely will come with the proposed net neutrality rules?

“As former FCC Chairman William Kennard said in an op-ed in 2006, ‘Unfortunately, the current debate in Washington is over ‘net neutrality’…Policymakers should rise above the net neutrality debate and focus on what America truly requires from the Internet: getting affordable broadband access to those who need it.’

“The wireless industry could not agree more. Let's move forward to make the promise of the National Broadband Plan a reality.”