Americans Want To Watch TV on Smartphones, but Data Cost Too High, FCC Told

Americans want to watch TV on their smartphones and tablets, but usually don’t, because the price of data remains too high, Writers Guild of America, West said in comments posted Tuesday in FCC docket 12-268. “Unfortunately, as more spectrum has become available, wireless data has not become appreciably more affordable,” the group said. “The lack of competition in the wireless market allows the dominant carriers to keep prices high and the lack of pro-competitive safeguards has only exacerbated the problem.” One answer is setting aside at least 40 MHz of spectrum in the TV incentive auction, in each market, for competitive carriers, the group said. “Improving the pro-competitive spectrum reserve will promote a more competitive wireless market and help accelerate the growth of the online video market.”