Verizon Wireless argued against rules that would curb exclusive h...

committee. Boucher asked for written statements from both after the companies declined to provide witnesses at a May 7 hearing on wireless competition, citing scheduling conflicts. With Congress considering handset exclusivity legislation, Verizon said “U.S. consumers have access to more innovative devices, including the iPhone and many Blackberry and Treo models that are introduced here first … In the last 18 months, many of the most advanced handsets have been launched in the United States, including Apple’s iPhone 3G, LG’s Voyager, Samsung’s Instinct, Google’s G1, and four Blackberry devices.” Verizon Wireless also argued that such agreements are “common throughout the American economy” and “statutorily mandated for patent holders.” Verizon Wireless also counseled the FCC not to intervene in the wireless backhaul market or expand regulation of roaming agreements between carriers. AT&T in its statement called wireless “one of the great success stories in American business.” AT&T also submitted data to buttress arguments that wireless backhaul is highly competitive, countering claims by Sprint Nextel and others. “AT&T has shown that the prices its customers pay in pricing flexibility areas fell by more than 18 percent (for DS1 circuits) and 10 percent (for DS3 circuits) in real inflation-adjusted terms from 2001 through 2004, and fell again by 23.7 percent (DS1) and 20.9 percent (DS3) in real inflation-adjusted terms from 2004 through the third quarter of 2007,” the company said. The Senate Commerce Committee plans a hearing on wireless competition issues on June 17, committee sources said, but plans are in the preliminary stages.