Pryor consent

Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) may have opted himself out the wireless industry’s good graces. I don’t know whether Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin, a Republican, ever had a warm and fuzzy feeling for Pryor, but – if so – Martin’s likely opted out.
Last week, according to a published report and an eyewitness, Pryor blasted Martin, the 700 MHz auction (the one that’s raised nearly a record $20 billion and birthed open access) and by extension AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless. In a Q&A session following remarks to broadcasters, Pryor was quoted as stating: “History will show that the way the FCC structured the auction basically helped the two big wireless companies to the detriment of competition in this country.”
Since FCC rules keep bidders’ identities secret until the auction ends, there’s supposedly no way of knowing yet whether AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless will indeed enhance their industry-leading positions through increased spectrum acquisitions. Yet, I suspect that Pryor is on the mark insofar as predicting who likely will be the big auction winners.
It wasn’t so long ago that Pryor gained golden-boy status in the cellular industry after calling for complete federal pre-emption of state regulation of carriers as part of a bill to establish uniform customer service and consumer protection requirements. It is the sweet-and-simple bill cellular carriers want, and is industry’s No. 1 legislative priority. Indeed, industry would prefer the Pryor measure over the draft wireless consumer bill authored by House telecom subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and subject of debate in a hearing last week.
So what gives? Is Pryor industry’s champion or not? Perhaps it depends. While Pryor’s bill benefits all wireless carriers, including Little Rock, Ark.-based Alltel Corp.; ambitious 700 MHz bidding by AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless is not necessarily good for Alltel. Alltel, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, has accounted for $31,800 (fourth largest) in campaign contributions to Pryor over the past five or so years. But AT&T has given too; it ranks No. 20 in political money donations to the Arkansas Democrat.
Maybe Pryor’s FCC and auction rancor can be chalked up to frustration, the kind increasingly on erratic display by the Democratic presidential contender (and former first lady of Arkansas) he’s backing. For a fun diversion, there’s always the upcoming auction of Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch.