@jbtaylor on tech

I'm a spokesman for Sprint. This personal site is where I share news stories and my views about our company, our phones and other devices. I also write a bit about tech policy, the wireless industry and life in Washington, D.C.

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Searching data roaming

Obox Signature Series

Setting AT&T straight on the facts

Media_httpfarm1static_cbduw
via flickr.com

This afternoon, Bob Quinn, AT&T's top lobbyist before the FCC, wrote a blog post which not only criticized a pro-consumer decision from the FCC, but also mischaracterized Sprint's network investments.

In response, Sprint issued the following statement to media:

"It’s disappointing, but not surprising, that AT&T wants to challenge a consumer’s right to access email, the Internet and other mobile broadband services wherever they may travel in the U.S. Along with Verizon Wireless, AT&T is the only other wireless carrier in America which opposes the FCC’s pro-consumer data roaming decision from last year.

"The facts are that Sprint, as part of its Network Vision program, doubled its 2011 capital investment over 2010 to make tens of thousands of capacity upgrades, resulting in a better wireless experience for its customers. With these network investments, Sprint continues to offer consumers a better value than AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.”

p.s. I suppose AT&T and Verizon are opposed to buffaloes roaming, too. ;-)

Verizon to Consumers: No Internet, No Email and No Data

Shouldn't you be able to use your smartphone to access the Internet or your email or data-driven apps like Pandora or Facebook wherever you can make a phone call?

The FCC says yes you should be able to do that, and later in April it's expected to make that a requirement for wireless carriers, a move that Sprint supports. 

Unfortunately, the folks at Verizon strongly disagree. Earlier today, media reported that Verizon's top lobbyist, former Congressman Tom Tauke (R-Iowa), discussed this issue with reporters saying in part, that the government, “should not get into the business of mandating that our infrastructure be made available to other carriers at a price set by the FCC.”

Verizon's Tauke also hinted at possible legal action by Verizon to stop the FCC from standing up for consumers.

Sprint strongly disagrees with Mr. Tauke and Verizon. We issued the following statement to media late this afternoon:

"It’s disappointing that Verizon wants to stop consumers from accessing email, the Internet and other mobile broadband services wherever they may travel in the US. Sprint is confident that the Commission has ample legal authority to take this step to protect competition and preserve consumer choice.  That is what the law requires of the FCC and we congratulate Chairman Genachowski and the rest of the FCC for taking this important step on behalf of consumers.”

 

 

FCC to Smartphone Users: Roam if you want to

via youtube.com

Last night the FCC announced its tentative agenda for the Commission's April meeting. One item consumers should cheer would require wireless carriers to enter into data roaming agreements in the same way they enter into voice roaming agreements.

So in other words, eventually, you will be able to surf the Net at all the places where you can make a phone call. As consumers use more and more data this makes sense.

We'll see what actually happens in April at the meeting.

Until then, remember the words of this classic B-52s song: "Roam if you want to..."