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Could cellular phone service be better for U.S. customers?

Some consumers and retailers are frustrated by cellular phone service in the United States

(CNN) -- Cellular phone providers in the United States sign up three new users per minute and have a combined customer base of approximately 112 million.

However, some people consider cellular phone service in the United States as inferior to that offered in Europe and Japan -- where there are few problems with coverage and capacity.

Why?

Competing standards and limited airwaves -- but there are other issues, too.

In the United States, at least four incompatible standards compete for customers and jostle for tower sites while there is only one type of cellular phone technology -- GSM -- in Europe.

Besides, the U.S. government seems unwilling to assign more airwaves to cellular phone service providers, according to Tom Wheeler, president of the Cellular Telephone Industry Association.

"If it is the wireless information highway, we need the asphalt for that highway," said Wheeler.

These issues raised concerns at the wireless industry's annual trade show in Las Vegas.

 CNN's Rick Lockridge has more.

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Cellualr Telephone Industry Association
Cell Phone Base Stations and Human Health
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
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