
Rural and regional carriers have been looking for the FCC to bring down the hammer on compulsory roaming from the big players
for years now, and in light of the recent investigations into potential anti-competitive practices, Verizon's throwing
yet another bone in an apparent effort to be on its best behavior while the scrutiny continues. This time around, the company is proposing that a law be put in effect requiring it to offer smaller carriers two years of guaranteed roaming contracts in areas where those smaller carriers own spectrum but haven't yet built out their network, with certain situations entitling them to a third year. The regionals
weren't happy with the handset exclusivity compromise and they don't appear to be happy with this deal, either -- Leap, owner of
Cricket, has already come out and complained that Verizon need roaming contracts "over two decades as it built out its network and acquired competitors" and is only offering a couple years in return, so this battle may be far from over.
[Via
Phone Scoop]