Sprint, T-Mobile, Dish join forces with others to press FCC on incentive auction rules

T-Mobile, Sprint, Dish Network, C Spire Wireless and a group of policy and public interest groups have forged a new alliance intended to pressure the Federal Communications Commission to craft 600 MHz auction rules that they say will benefit smaller carriers and increase wireless competition.

The group, called SaveWirelessChoice, also includes the Competitive Carriers Association, COMPTEL, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Consumer Federation of America, Engine, NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association, Public Knowledge, the Rural Wireless Association and Writers Guild of America West. The coalition has two main goals. It wants the FCC to hold the incentive auction of 600 MHz broadcast TV spectrum in early 2016 as planned. Secondly, it wants a bigger chunk of spectrum reserved in the auction for smaller carriers -- to 40 MHz, or at least half of the spectrum available in the auction.