CTIA Stolen Smartphones Database Implementation Status Update

October 31, 2012
Chairman Julius Genachowski
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C.  20554
Re:  CTIA Stolen Smartphones Database Implementation
Status Update
Dear Chairman Genachowski:
On  April 10, 2012, CTIA  – The Wireless Association® (“CTIA”),  in
coordination with the Federal Communications Commission and the Major City
Police Chiefs, announced a voluntary commitment by CTIA and participating
wireless companies to take certain actions to help law enforcement deter smartphone
theft and protect personal data.    CTIA writes today to  confirm that  participating
wireless providers  covering more than 90 percent of U.S. subscribers  have met the
October 31, 2012 deadline  for implementing databases  intended  to prevent
reactivation of stolen smartphones.
CTIA is pleased to state that  AT&T, Cellcom, Nex-Tech Wireless, Sprint
Nextel, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless have  deployed databases that use
unique smartphone identifying numbers  to prevent smartphones reported by their
customers as stolen from being activated and/or provided service on their own
networks.  In addition, AT&T and T-Mobile USA have established connectivity to
populate smartphones reported as stolen in the GSMA Global IMEI database for use
by other carriers, as recommended in the GSMA-NA Report entitled “Analysis and
Recommendations for Stolen Mobile Device Issue in the United States,” and are
using this to prevent smartphones reported by their customers as stolen from being
activated and/or provided service on each other’s network.
If you have any questions  regarding  this submission, please contact the
undersigned.
Sincerely,
/s/ Christopher Guttman-McCabe
Christopher Guttman-McCabe
cc: Charles Mathias