FCC may Investigate Exclusive Deals Between Phone Makers And Carriers

According to the news made available by The Wall Street Journal, the Federal Communications Commission plans to investigate the exclusive arrangements between wireless carriers and cell phone makers to decide if they are fair for consumers.
This was announced by Julius Genachowski, whose nomination as FCC chairman was approved by the Senate committee. He stated that he wants to review the exclusive manufacturer-carrier handset deals. It should be recalled that some lawmakers have expressed their concerns over the said exclusivity and advised the FCC to investigate the matter.
Such exclusive agreements are common in the cell phone market, such as the one that locks iPhone owners into an AT&T service plan. The exclusive deals typically last six months to a year, after which other carriers can also sell the phone model to their customers.