Wireless carriers including Sprint and T-Mobile have released statements generally expressing support for the recent controversial vote by the FCC regarding Net Neutrality, despite uncertainties in how the rules may have unforeseen effects on the telecommunications industry. In a statement by Sprint, the carrier said it “commends the FCC for its hard work in arriving at a thoughtful, measured approach on this important issue.” The statement continued, “We believe balanced net neutrality rules with a light regulatory touch will benefit consumers, while fostering mobile broadband competition, investment and innovation in the United States.” T-Mobile’s CEO John Legere also made a statement generally expressing support, while pointing out that the details have yet to be thoroughly examined, “As the consumer advocate, we have always believed in competition and in a free, open Internet with rules that protect net neutrality – no blocking, no discrimination and transparency.” Legere said, “I am hopeful that the FCC’s new rules will let us continue to offer innovative services to consumers in our typical Un-carrier fashion, but obviously we need to read through all of the details.” Industry analysts are saying the support mostly stems from protections by federal and state laws that can now be provided to carriers which may otherwise have been left to the regulations of local municipalities. Such local regulations would have significant effect on the construction of DAS and small cell projects.
Verizon, however, released a statement from Michael E. Glover, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, saying in part “The FCC’s move is especially regrettable because it is wholly unnecessary,” AT&T’s Jim Cicconi, Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs expressed similar concern, posting on AT&T’s public policy blog saying of the 3-2 partisan FCC vote, “This may suit partisans who lust for issues of political division, but it isn’t healthy for the Internet ecosystem, for the economy, or for our political system.”
