FCC released Fri. notice of inquiry (NOI) on its annual analysis ...

improve data involved in its annual wireless competition report to Congress (CD Dec 12 p3). Notice said over past year, Wi-Fi “has begun to play an increasingly important role in the mobile data industry.” Notice asks for feedback on whether Wi-Fi competes with “commercial, interconnected mobile data services” and if it has potential to compete with these services to larger extent in future. It questions how many people or what percentage of U.S. population subscribes to or uses Wi-Fi services, in how many locations it is available, what are major drawbacks and how secure it is for end users. NOI also asks how FCC could improve methodology it uses for determining service availability and evaluating competition. Concern has been raised in past that reports have considered carrier as “covering” particular county if it offered service in any portion of that county. Notice acknowledged multiple operators shown as covering same county aren’t necessarily providing service to same part of county. “Consequently, some of the counties included in this analysis may have limited coverage from a particular provider,” it said. Analysis has overstated “to some degree” level of competition and total coverage concerning both geographic area and population covered, notice said. FCC asks in notice that to improve report’s accuracy, carriers submit coverage maps they make available to public, including maps used in ad material. Notice asks if carriers have more detailed coverage maps that aren’t available to public. In other areas, notice sought comment on ways it could obtain independent sources of information on competition data provided for report. Inquiry also explores what definition of rural FCC should use for examining availability of services in these areas. “We ask whether the existence of fewer facilities-based providers in rural areas necessarily indicates the existence of less meaningful competition in these areas,” notice said. In area of mobile satellite service, notice seeks information on geographic areas in which Globalstar, Iridium, Inmarsat and Mobile Satellite Venture provide coverage and offer service to new customers. Deadline for comments is Jan. 27, with replies due Feb. 11.