CTIA told FCC, in comments filed last week on reallocation of Ch....

interests on notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) came as recently passed budget resolution retained proposals by President Bush to push back auction dates for both upper and lower band channels of 700 MHz. Rulemaking would reallocate lower 700 MHz band from incumbent analog broadcasters to advanced wireless services. NPRM also proposed retaining broadcasting allocation, which could include what CTIA called full-power broadcast operations. CTIA said that in related auction proceedings for Ch. 60-69, agency had rejected possibility of sharing those frequencies by broadcast and advanced wireless services. “The same conclusion is applicable to the lower 700 MHz band with equal or even greater force, given the large number of broadcast licensees on this band,” CTIA said. “There are simply too many technical, operational and regulatory challenges associated with the sharing of spectrum by full-power broadcast and wireless licensees.” Group said there was “home” for terrestrial broadcast TV services on Ch. 2-51. CTIA also urged FCC to not apply spectrum cap to lower band, which would reflect Commission decision on how Ch. 60-69 would be auctioned to wireless carriers. In other comments, Leap Wireless recommended FCC license and auction spectrum in basic trading area or metropolitan statistical areas, rather than in larger regional areas or through national licenses, which are possibilities on which agency sought feedback. Reallocation of spectrum would be “meaningless” to smaller carriers that serve secondary markets if spectrum were to be auctioned in those larger blocks, Leap contended. Rural Telecommunications Group (RTG) offered essentially same message on importance licensing of “smallest possible geographic areas” to ensure that rural communities weren’t left behind. RTG also urged agency to “provide rural telephone companies with auction incentives,” particularly bidding credits. It said “Commission should establish strict build-out requirements to ensure delivery of service to rural areas and to prevent stockpiling or warehousing of spectrum.” Qwest Wireless said Commission shouldn’t license new broadcast-type services “given the ongoing presence of incumbents. Mobile and fixed wireless services continue to strive to reduce their operating power requirements.” Carrier told FCC that broadcast operations had viable alternatives “and authorizing such services on this spectrum risks burdening new mobile and fixed wireless services.” Qwest said that if FCC decided to allow services other than fixed and mobile wireless in that band, new broadcast-type services should be subject to same technical and service rules, “thus precluding high-power broadcast operations in the spectrum.”