US Senators request FCC to review handset exclusivity deals

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A number of US senators are reportedly urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review exclusivity arrangements for mobile handset technology between carriers and vendors over concern about competition and choice.

According to a letter submitted to the FCC, the senators, including former presidential candidate John Kerry, urge careful examination of exclusivity agreements to see if these unfairly restrict consumer choice ol Cellular Association, which represents more than 80 rural mobile carriers, recently or adversely impact competition in the commercial mobile market. This is in result to the petition filed by the Rural Cellular Association submitted to the Commission urging it to look into how the arrangements, such as those between Apple and AT&T for the iPhone and between Verizon Wireless and LG for the Voyager, affect consumers. The group of senators said they will hold a hearing on 17 June to examine competition issues and determine if legislative action is necessary.