FCC Chief Praises Wireless Industry

From DailyTech: AT&T is a source of angst and ire for many users who are on its network. As the exclusive iPhone provider in the U.S., the company has a group of the most prolific mobile media consumers on a network that has been synonymous with bandwidth problems, dropped calls, and being closed to VoIP.

AT&T this week finally agreed to allow VoIP applications to be used on its 3G network for iPhone users instead of having to rely on a Wi-Fi connection. FCC chief Julius Genachowski praised the wireless industry for making moves to open their networks. The praise was clearly aimed at AT&T for allowing VoIP on its mobile network.

Genachowski also promised to work to overcome a looming airwave shortage - he said in a speech at CTIA that he sympathized with the fears of wireless companies with the explosive growth of smartphones on the current market.

Genachowski said, "I believe that that the biggest threat to the future of mobile in America is the looming spectrum crisis."

More spectrum was added over the last year after the migration to all digital broadcasts was complete and the swatch of airwaves broadcasters previously used were gobbled up by wireless providers. The only section of airwaves that did not sell was the block allocated for shared use with public safety officials. Genachowski says, "We must promote more efficient use of spectrum."

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