FCC Chairman Wheeler's Response to Members of Congress Regarding Incentive Auctions

On Sept 1, in a letter to several members of Congress, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler responded to inquiries into the FCC's efforts to update the competitive bidding rules to provide small businesses and rural service providers with greater flexibility to compete in today's wireless marketplace.

He responded by writing, "The [FCC] recently adopted a Report & Order updating our competitive bidding rules to reflect the dramatic changes in the wireless marketplace since they were last updated in 2006....the [FCC] acted in order to afford bona fide small businesses and eligible rural service providers a better on-ramp into the wireless industry and the flexibility to make businesses decisions that can create more wireless choice for consumers...Ultimately, the reforms adopted in the Report & Order will increase the economic opportunity for small and rural businesses, as well as ensure that the beneficiaries of our competitive bidding rules are those intended by Congress."