Although primarily known as a broadband service, some fixed wireless providers also offer voice. Drs. Katz and Aron include fixed wireless,” as one of the “terrestrial consumer options” available to California voice consumers, but “relevant neither quantifies its availability or market share in California. CALTEL’s DeYoung mentions fixed wireless as a last mile alternative for some CLECs, but she likewise does not explore its availability or quantify its market share. Much of Intervenors’ testimony about fixed wireless addresses its application in the broadband market. As some fixed wireless companies are solely broadband providers, and as their presence in the voice market is by all accounts quite small, the viability of fixed wireless will be discussed primarily in the broadband context, below. It is not without impact in the voice markets though, as fixed wireless is often mentioned as an alternative way for incumbents to reach rural customers. Whether or not fixed wireless could fulfill a provider’s carrier of last resort (COLR) obligations depends on whether the customer can reliably receive the signal inside the home as required by the Commission’s Basic Service rules. Factors affecting reliability include such things as poor weather and tree growth along the signal’s line of sight. Satellite Although the Commission licenses satellite telephone providers in California, their market share also appears quite small. Accordingly, we did not request data from these providers. Over-the-Top Voice Dr. Katz includes delivered as an application over a consumer’s “voice broadband Internet access service” as an option for consumers in the market for
Although primarily known as a broadband service, some fixed wireless providers also offer voice. Drs. Katz and Aron include “terrestrial fixed wireless,” as one of the “relevant consumer options” available to California voice consumers, but neither quantifies its availability or market share in California. CALTEL’s DeYoung mentions fixed wireless as a last mile alternative for some CLECs, but she likewise does not explore its availability or quantify its market share. Much of Intervenors’ testimony about fixed wireless addresses its application in the broadband market. As some fixed wireless companies are solely broadband providers, and as their presence in the voice market is by all accounts quite small, the viability of fixed wireless will be discussed primarily in the broadband context, below. It is not without impact in the voice markets though, as fixed wireless is often mentioned as an alternative way for incumbents to reach rural customers. Whether or not fixed wireless could fulfill a provider’s carrier of last resort (COLR) obligations depends on whether the customer can reliably receive the signal inside the home as required by the Commission’s Basic Service rules. Factors affecting reliability include such things as poor weather and tree growth along the signal’s line of sight. Satellite Although the Commission licenses satellite telephone providers in California, their market share also appears quite small. Accordingly, we did not request data from these providers. Over-the-Top Voice Dr. Katz includes “voice delivered as an application over a consumer’s broadband Internet access service” as an option for consumers in the market for
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