The FCC wants to know what you think about competition in the communications marketplace. The data will inform its quarterly report to Congress.
The agency must assess competition to deliver voice, video, audio, and data services among providers of telecommunications, providers of commercial mobile service, multichannel video programming distributors, broadcast stations, providers of satellite communications, internet service providers, and other communications services providers. It must consider all forms of competition, including “the effect of intermodal competition, facilities-based competition, and competition from new and emergent communications services.”
The FCC Office of Economics and Analytics asks commenters to submit information, data and statistics for both 2020 and 2021, as well as information on notable trends and developments that occurred this year. It says, “to facilitate analysis of competitive trends, parties should submit relevant current and historic data that are comparable over time.”
Concerning mobile wireless services, “comments and information are sought on industry data, competitive dynamics, and trending factors in the mobile wireless industry, including, but not limited to, factors that determine demand for mobile wireless services, the number of connections, pricing, spectrum holdings, network coverage, and the development of innovative technologies,” says the agency. Similar information is needed for fixed broadband services, voice, audio, satellite communications, and international broadband data.
The first Communications Marketplace report came out in December 2018; it adopted the second report at year-end 2019.
Comments are due by July 1, to GN Docket #22-203.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
