Smaller Regional Carriers Getting Upset About iPhone’s AT&T Exclusivity

by Jody Mitoma on May 20, 2008 at 8:08 pm

(image by Gizmodo)

The Rural Cellular Association (repping smaller regional carriers) is petitioning the FCC to ban exclusive deals, such as the iPhone’s exclusivity with AT&T, and the Blackberry Thunder’s exclusivity with Verizon. Reason for this is simple. The smaller, not as popular, sadder bunch of carriers are getting upset because they are losing out on a heck of a lot of potential customers.

One of the problems in particular, is the fact that most people in Vermont can’t get an iPhone, since AT&T only has roaming coverage there, and none of the carriers in the area can offer it.

According to Gizmodo, this isn’t the first time a petition such as this has gone down before. It has happened before, and has failed everytime. Don’t expect this time ’round will be any different.

(Source: Wall Street Journal via Gizmodo)