Petition filed with FCC against exclusive cell phone deals

The Rural Cellular Association--a group of more than 80 small and rural wireless providers--wants to end exclusive deals between carriers and handset makers. The contention is that such arrangements are unfair and stifles the ability of the consumer the freedom to choose their carrier of choice. In addition, customers living in smaller areas not covered by the big carriers lose out on the ability to acquire phones tied up in such arrangements. The most prominent example of their complaint would probably be Apple's exclusivity deal with AT&T, which gave the U.S. carrier the sole right to sell the iPhone within the United States.

For more on the petition:
- check out this CNET News.com blog