House Amendment Would Open Metro to All Wireless Carriers

The House Committee on Oversight will consider a measure that would mandate access to all wireless carriers, not just Verizon Wireless, on the subway system run by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Sprint users can roam while aboard Metro, but don’t have access to data. AT&T and T-Mobile subscribers can’t make or receive calls. The Committee will take up the measure after Easter recess.

Committee Chmn. Waxman (D-Cal.) and ranking member Davis (R-Va.) will offer an amendment to HR-401, which amends the National Capital Transportation Act of 1969 to authorize more federal money for WMATA, sources said Fri. Davis introduced that bill Jan. 11.

Under the amendment, Metro would have to offer carriers access to the system so they can provide service at the 20 busiest subway platforms within a year of enactment. Within 4 years, carriers would have to be able to offer systemwide coverage. Lack of access to the Metro has rankled Verizon’s rivals for years. “This has been a longstanding complaint of the other carriers,” said a wireless industry source: “It’s not only a competitiveness issue -- since it gives Verizon a real advantage in Washington -- but it also raises public safety concerns if you can’t use your phone inside the Metro tunnels.”

“Expanded wireless coverage within our nation’s subway systems is in the public interest -- not just for the convenience of the millions of passengers who rely on the subways, but more importantly, for the use of the public safety organizations,” Sprint Nextel said Fri.