FCC Announces Plans to Measure Speeds on Cell Phone Service

The FCC earlier today announced plans to get a better handle on just what mobile broadband speeds are being provided by the industry's offerings, with an eye toward bringing a bit of transparency and consistency into the mix of speeds, which range surprisingly throughout the industry.

The four major mobile providers--T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T and Verizon--have all agreed to join in the FCC's study, and the trade association comprising these four, the CTIA, has also agreed to step in. The FCC calls the plan Measuring Mobile America, and its procedures will actually be somewhat similar to the plan on which it is modeled, the Measuring Broadband America plan. Measuring Broadband America helped get a better idea of just what home-based broadband services were available, and where, so it's hoped that the Measuring Mobile America plan will have similar results for the mobile market.

Julius Genachowski, chairman of the FCC, recently remarked on this, saying “We know from experience: transparency on broadband speeds drives improvement in broadband speeds. Our ongoing Measuring Broadband America program has helped improve performance in wired broadband. Our new mobile broadband measurement initiative extends the program to smartphones and other wireless devices. It will empower consumers and encourage improvements in mobile networks and programs, benefitting (sic) millions of Americans.”

Given the overall disparity in the market as far as 4G goes--"4G" has become something of a catch-all term to include technologies like Mobile WiMAX, HSPA+, and LTE--it's clear that some kind of standardization would prove useful here, or at least a bit more information about just what the mobile networks are offering.

As an example, AT&T reportedly claimed earlier this year that iPhone customers could access a 4G network with their iPhones. Apple, the device's maker, said that the newest iPhone can only run 3G technology. The distinction makes for an extremely complex issue, and one that will make some standardization by the FCC's Measuring Mobile America plan especially welcome for users.

The FCC's plan is set to be finalized at their September 21 meeting, so some new information may be emerging for buyers very soon. Getting the kinks ironed out of the system, and a clear understanding of just what the various mobile devices are offering in terms of speeds, will likely prove very valuable for those shopping for mobile devices. Given that the holiday shopping season will be in full bloom before too much longer has passed, that extra knowledge might well alter some buying decisions, and change the course of the season for mobile vendors. But given that mobile providers are already pushing for LTE access across the board, and that home broadband companies put plenty extra into their own speeds when the FCC was watching, the end result could just mean faster speeds for all in the not too distant future. That's a hard development to pass up.

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