Live from CTIA: FCC Chairman talks 4G, net neutrality (Continued)

CONTINUED FROM >> "Live from CTIA: FCC Chairman talks 4G, net neutrality"

This streamlining process doesn't stop with towers, he said. "We'll address roaming in a broadband world and look for ways to accelerate high capacity in the middle mile in both rural and urban areas."

The third prong of Genachowski's plan involves the open mobile Internet. "I believe it will be essential to ensure that the Internet remains open," he said. "The FCC adopted and enforced an open Internet, but confusion exists." Genachowski stressed that regulations must be sensible and flexible enough to offer ongoing evolution of mobile broadband. "My time in business has convinced me we don't want heavy-handed and prescriptive regulation. [When it comes to] wireless and wired Internet access, I agree one size does not fit all...There are real and relevant differences between wireless and wired. Managing wireless network isn't the same as managing fiber network. The rules will reflect that difference."

The last principle involves ensuring a transparent and competitive marketplace for consumers. To that end, Genachowski said the FCC hasn't determined whether it will ban handset exclusivity. "We want your input," he told the audience.

Immediately following Genachowski's keynote address, AT&T Mobility President and CEO Ralph de la Vega took the stage and defended the U.S. wireless industry's competitive positioning, saying that the U.S. indeed is a competitive market with 173 wireless carriers and one of the the lowest airtime price-per-minute ratios of any country in the world. He said heavy regulation would hurt consumer pricing and innovation.

De la Vega was impassioned about the recent spectrum purchases in the 700 MHz band and AWS band, and the impact net neutrality rules might have on those investments. During the 700 MHz spectrum auction, the carrier paid extra for spectrum that did not carry open-access stipulations. If the FCC imposes net neutrality regulations, the move would essentially negate the premium AT&T paid by retroactively placing similar open-access stipulations on AT&T's network.

"The rules should not change after bidding is complete," de la Vega said. "These rules should not change now after the money has been spent but before spectrum has been put to use. What does this say about the integrity of the auction?"

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