Trashing Carriers: Legit Gripe or Sour Grapes?
Criticism of U.S. wireless carriers has reached a peak during the dog days of summer, with cries that carriers are charging too much for wireless voice, data and texting even as consumers have benefited lately from cheaper smartphones. The outcry against wireless carriers follows recent plans by government agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission and Congress, to investigate exclusive smartphone deals by the carriers, including AT&T Inc.’s sale of Apple Inc.’s iPhone. Consumer groups, such as the nonprofit Free Press in Washington, have linked exclusive smartphone deals to helping carriers justify higher wireless prices to customers. Higher prices are charged even at the same time that network technology investments by carriers have decreased overall, Free Press argued. “We have a lot of concerns over voice and data plan costs, not just that they are too high, but there is demonstrated evidence that as the wireless carriers’ revenues are rising, their wireless capital
