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Data Roaming between carriers

Submitted by: Fox k @ 08:34 AM | Friday, April 8, 2011 | (url: http://www.itworl...)

April 07, 2011, 2:35 PM The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has voted to require mobile carriers to enter into data-roaming agreements with competitors, despite objections that the agency doesn't have the authority to enforce the pacts.

The commission voted 3-2 Thursday to require mobile-broadband roaming agreements between carriers in a move largely targeting AT&T and Verizon, the two largest mobile carriers in the U.S. The commission's two Republicans voted against the order, arguing that the FCC has no congressional authority to enforce common-carrier rules on mobile broadband service.

Several small mobile carriers have called for FCC action on data-roaming agreements, saying the two large carriers often refuse to even negotiate.

Mobile customers expect that their Internet and e-mail services will work nationwide, said Commissioner Michael Copps, a Democrat. "What good is that smartphone if it can't be used when a subscriber is roaming across the country or even across the county?" he said. "Our regulations must reflect today's reality and not make artificial distinctions between voice and data telecommunications."

The new rules don't set prices for the roaming agreements, allowing carriers to negotiate commercially reasonable rates. But the rules set up an arbitration process at the FCC if two carriers can't come to an agreement.

The requirement amounts to old-style common-carrier regulations historically applied to voice services with little competition, argued the commission's two Republicans. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 prohibits the FCC from applying common-carrier regulations to information services, including mobile broadband, said Commissioner Robert McDowell.

http://www.itworld.com/mobile-wireless/153703/fcc-requires-data-roaming-agreements
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How is a Verizon Phone going to use the AT&T network?


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