NTIA Dir. Nancy Victory told FCBA policy forum late Tues. that am...

In other areas, discussion turned to extent that innovative technology in receivers could maximize spectrum use by reducing size of guard bands and channel spacing, she said. “Not surprisingly, there’s a sliding scale between cost and efficiency,” she said. One issue that “surprised me most” at summit was interest in govt. and commercial users in exploring ways to use same system, Victory said. “Obviously this won’t work for all uses,” she said. “But if we can eliminate some redundant systems we can clearly increase efficiency and open up some spectrum for new services.” Among themes from summit that Victory said she expected would figure prominently in NTIA’s spectrum management agenda was “need for teamwork to replace turf wars. Spectrum needs are too important to be undermined by internecine squabbling between and among and within branches of government.” Victory said she planned to talk with FCC Chmn. Powell and David Gross, U.S. deputy asst. secy. of state for international communications, on developing action plan that would “facilitate the efficient functioning of the nation’s spectrum management team at home and abroad.” Victory also said: “We need to make a concerted effort to eliminate unnecessary government micromanaging of spectrum uses. This means a fresh look at legacy rules and restrictions to assess their ability to accommodate emerging technologies or spectrum needs.” In separate panel discussion moderated by Bryan Tramont, senior legal adviser to FCC Comr. Abernathy, Cingular Vp-Federal Relations Brian Fontes expressed dismay at recent Wireless Bureau decision to keep 700 MHz auction date intact. Bureau last week turned down CTIA request to delay June 19 start. Decision by bureau amounted to “no, we will do this auction come hell or high water,” Fontes said, noting that FCC had notice of proposed rulemaking on potentially reconfiguring 800 MHz band that could be affected by decisions in 700 MHz. Nextel Vp-Chief Regulatory Officer Robert Foosaner on separate panel said CTIA had set up committees on 800 MHz NPRM stemming in part from White Paper on band reconfiguration floated by Nextel last fall. Seven other associations have set up similar committees and 5 alternative plans are known to be in works other than Nextel’s original paper, he said: “Spectrum allocation… is about the most difficult decision that faces policymakers at the FCC.” Nextel proposal attempts to address “in a hard and concrete way with $500 million on the table” issue of interference in that band.