CABLE CONSORTIUM OFFERS PLAN ON AUTOMATIC-ROAMING EXCEPTION

摘要

The FCC should eliminate the in-market exclusion to its new automatic roaming rules, or at least give new licensees the right to automatic roaming during their first license term, cable consortium SpectrumCo said in a filing. Existing licensees would have roaming rights for seven years once the order took effect under a proposal by the company. At that point a carrier no longer wanting to give another roaming rights could petition the FCC to deny rights in that carrier's home market. "The approach affords critically important automatic home roam rights to both new licensees and, for a reasonable period, existing licensees that are in the process of expanding their networks," SpectrumCo said. "It also maintains a regulatory compulsion to build-out licenses areas." FCC Chairman Kevin Martin recently said he is "sympathetic" to foes of the in-market exclusion. He indicated that the commission probably will act soon on petitions for reconsideration filed last year, including one from SpectrumCo.