FCC wireless report neutral on market competition

For the second straight year the FCC had no opinion on whether the wireless market--seemingly dominated by two players with even more tightening on tap--is effectively competitive.

This is presumably a good news/bad news scenario for the always-criticized noncompetitive cable industry: good because the FCC doesn't see a competitive problem; bad because it makes it even tougher to crack a wireless space where the regulatory body apparently doesn't believe more competition is needed.

"Like last year's report, the 15^th Mobile Wireless Competition Report does not reach an overly simplistic yes-no conclusion on the state of competition in the complex mobile services marketplace," said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski's press secretary Neil Grace.

Commissioner Michael Copps wasn't without conclusion. He pointed to "darkening clouds over the state of mobile competition" and suggested a deeper look would "find ongoing trends of industry consolidation."

For more:
- The Hill has this story

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