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 Federal  Communications  Commission  FCC  06-  142 
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 COMMISSIONER  ROBERT  M.  McDOWELL 
 Re:  Implementation  of  Section  6002(  b)  of  the  Omnibus  Budget  Reconciliation  Act  of  1993;  Annual  Report  and  Analysis  of  Competitive  Market  Conditions  With  Respect  to  Commercial  Mobile 
 Services,  Eleventh  Report,  WT  Docket  No.  06-  17 


 First,  many  thanks  to  the  staff  of  the  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  for  this  fine  effort.  This  report  and  analysis  is  thoughtful  and  comprehensive,  and  I  appreciate  your  careful  attention  and  hard 
 work. 
 With  respect  to  the  substance,  I  am  particularly  pleased  to  see  so  many  positive  developments  in  the  wireless  sector.  Over  the  last  13  years,  wireless  subscriber  growth  has  grown  exponentially  and 
 competition  among  numerous  providers  has  flourished.  Ninety-  eight  percent  of  the  total  U.  S.  population  continues  to  live  in  counties  where  three  or  more  different  operators  compete  to  offer  wireless  service, 
 while  nearly  94  percent  of  the  U.  S.  population  continues  to  live  in  counties  with  four  or  more  different  operators  competing  to  offer  service.  Consumers  have  benefited  from  this  competition  –  new  services 
 abound  and  prices  have  declined. 
 The  overall  wireless  penetration  rate  in  our  country  is  now  at  71  percent  –  and  our  report  notes  one  analyst’s  view  that  just  about  everyone  between  the  ages  of  20  and  49  has  a  wireless  phone. 
 Moreover,  innovative  broadband  services  using  advanced  technologies  allow  customers  to  use  new  multimedia  phones  to  watch  TV,  download  songs,  receive  information  and  access  content,  such  as  sports, 
 news  and  weather,  at  broadband  speeds.  Mobile  phones  are  providing  consumers  with  a  personal  computer-  type  broadband  experience.  Additionally,  I  applaud  the  competitive  wireless  industry  for 
 beginning  to  invest  the  necessary  capital  that  permits  consumers  the  flexibility  to  pull  the  content  of  their  choice  at  the  time  and  place  of  their  choice. 


 At  the  same  time,  prices  are  decreasing.  Our  report  estimates  that  revenue  per  minute  (RPM)  declined  22  percent  last  year  alone.  RPM  currently  stands  at  $0.07,  as  compared  with  $0.47  in  December 
 1994  –  a  decline  of  86  percent.  This  is  great  news  for  consumers. 
 I  am  delighted  that  the  trend  is  positive,  and  I  will  continue  to  watch  with  great  interest  future  developments  in  the  wireless  industry. 
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