Washington, D.C. – The Rural Telecommunications Group, Inc. (RTG), a trade association representing small, rural wireless carriers, filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stating that the FCC has the authority to require automatic data roaming.
Please click here for a copy of the comments on why the FCC should extend roaming obligations to mobile data services that are provided without interconnection to the public switched network.
As the mobile communications industry shifts from its voice-centric origin to its data-centric future, so too must roaming regulations. These comments argue that:
- the FCC has the requisite legal authority under Title II of the Communications Act, and supplemental Congressional authority under Titles III and I, to require Automatic data roaming;
- mobile voice and mobile data roaming services should be regulated in a similar manner and such regulations should be applicable to all operators offering mobile wireless services; and
- extending automatic roaming requirements to data services will increase retail competition, extend mobile broadband coverage, products and services, decrease barriers to entry for new market participants, and drastically improve wireless options for rural consumers.
About RTG
Headquartered in Washington, DC, RTG is a trade association representing rural wireless carriers who serve less than 100,000 subscribers. RTG’s members have joined together to speed delivery of new, efficient and innovative telecommunications technologies to remote and underserved communities. www.ruraltelecomgroup.org
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