BRIAN HIGGINS
27TH DISTRICT, NEW YORK
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
BORDER AND MARITIME SeCURITY
SUBCOMMITTEE ON COUNTERTERRORISM
AND INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE
MIDDLE EAST AND SOUTH ASIA
SUBCOMMITTEE ON TERRORISM,
NONPROLIFERATION AND TRADE
REVITALIZING OLDER CITIES
TASK FORCE
CO-CHAIR
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mta~bington.jDQ[: 20515-3227
March 12, 2012
WASHINGTON OFFICE:
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higgins.house.gov
Chairman Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
Chairman Genachowski,
I write to express my concerns with the recent partnership proposal between CellCo Partnership
and Verizon Wireless. I would like to associate my comments with others in reference to Docket
number 12-4 that the FCC is currently receiving public comments on. This merger represents an
exciting opportunity to expand the Verizon FiGS network while creating new jobs and
opportunities for great broadband access and cable coverage. My concern is that the benefits and
opportunities are maximized for the residents ofmy district in the City ofBuffalo.
Buffalo is the second largest city in New York and represents a dynamic economy that is integral
to cross border trade with Canada. Despite having a thriving medical research community, a
vibrant banking sector, and a strong manufacturing base, broadband and cable infrastructure has
lagged in certain parts ofthe City ofBuffalo. Verizon specifically has expanded its FiGS
network to ten suburbs ofthe Buffalo area but has not built into our urban neighborhoods. This
situation has created an unbalanced market for cable and broadband services in the City of
Buffalo with little competition.
A merger between CellCo and Verizon could continue this trend rather than alleviate concerns.
Verizon might have little incentive to compete with its new partner by building a vibrant FiGS
network in the City ofBuffalo. Lack ofcompetition drives up prices and reduces the quality of
service making it more and more difficult to take advantage ofbroadband and cable services.
The Internet has become a driving force in economic empowerment. It has provided services to
small businesses, schools, hospitals and manufactures that have allowed them to succeed in an
increasingly competitive global market. Broadband networks like Verizon FiGS provide high
speed access to education tools, data, and market research necessary for all communities to
diversify their economics and fit in to a global economy. It follows that denial ofthese services
or monopolies on access create a situation that harms those communities that bear the brunt of
limited competition.
PRINTEDON RECYCLED PAPER
0336
Increased competition and access to these essential services should be promoted by our federal,
state and local policies. When the private market places barriers to access or competition fails to
produce outcomes that serve the greatest number ofpeople we can only conclude that steps must
be taken to alleviate those impediments. I ask that you thoroughly examine the potential impact
ofthis merger on competition in the City ofBuffalo while taking into account access to
communities that are currently underserved.
Sincerely,
~A,v~
BRIAN HIGGINS
Member ofCongress