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Senators To Examine Exclusive Handset Deals

Posted by kdawson on from the baby-steps-toward-openness dept.

narramissic writes "Based on a request that a group of rural operators sent asking the FCC to examine the practice of handset exclusivity, four members of the Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet sent a letter to the FCC expressing their concern. Small operators, like U.S. Cellular argue (PDF) that 'exclusive handset contracts divide wireless customers into haves and have nots.' But nationwide operators, including Verizon, maintain (PDF) that 'in the absence of exclusivity agreements, wireless carriers would have less incentive to develop and promote innovative handsets.' The Commerce Committee expects to hold a hearing on the issue tomorrow."

5 of 234 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Carriers != Manufacturers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    AT&T helps market the iPhone

    Yeah! Where would Apple be without the PR geniuses at AT&T helping them to market their latest toys?

  2. Re:Carriers != Manufacturers by tsm_sf · · Score: 4, Funny

    Maybe not directly, but carriers do dictate and direct a lot of handset development.

    "You know those phones they have in Japan? Make me a shitty version."

    --
    Literalism isn't a form of humor, it's you being irritating.
  3. letter to whom? by damn_registrars · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why on earth would any reasonable person expect a letter to the FCC to accomplish anything? I've tried to contact the FCC before and they just respond with the same canned response every time, telling me they cannot do anything. Might as well send a letter to Santa.

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
  4. Re:Binding Contracts. by socsoc · · Score: 2, Funny

    And, on an unrelated note, could anyone tell me why the HTML "li" code now works erratically? Is there another code that just gives me a simple new paragraph?

    On a similarly unrelated note, can anyone tell me why throwing candles lit by matches at my Stouffer's frozen meal isn't warming it up? Is there a proper industry standard for doing something simple that I have completely missed out on?

  5. Re:Binding Contracts. by Quothz · · Score: 3, Funny

    I did work a few years ago for an unnamed handset maker

    That must've saved a lot on letterhead and business cards.