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 STATEMENT  OF  CHAIRMAN  MICHAEL  K.  POWELL 
 Re:  Annual  Report  and  Analysis  of  Competitive  Market  Conditions  With  Respect  to  Commercial  Mobile  Services  (Eight  Report)  (adopted  June  26,  2003) 
 The  annual  analysis  of  the  CMRS  market  demonstrates  how  a  lighter  regulatory  hand  has  ushered  in  innovation  and  technological  advancement,  and  the  power  of 
 facilities-  based  competition  into  the  marketplace.  Today  95%  of  American  consumers  now  have  three  or  more  choices  in  wireless  providers,  and  a  stunning  71%  have  six  or 
 more  choices.  And  with  this  wealth  of  choices  has  come  lower  per  minute  prices  and  more  innovative  services.  The  conclusion  is  inescapable:  the  wireless  industry  is  highly 
 competitive.  The  Report,  however,  notes  that  rural  areas  have  fewer  competitors  than  urban  areas.  I  look  forward  to  working  with  my  colleagues  to  develop  policies  that  will 
 enhance  the  effectiveness  of  competition  in  rural  areas  by  removing  unnecessary  regulatory  barriers  to  facilitating  the  deployment  and  delivery  of  spectrum-  based  services 
 in  these  areas.  This  is  the  most  comprehensive  wireless  competition  report  that  the  Commission  has  ever  produced  and  I  applaud  the  efforts  of  the  Wireless  Bureau  to 
 update,  verify,  and  diversify  our  data  to  better  capture  the  state  of  the  marketplace. 
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