CTIA Notebook...
The FCC is looking at 2155-2165 MHz for a potential spectrum testbed, a key recommendation of a June NTIA report on U.S. spectrum policy in the 21st Century, Office of Engineering & Technology Deputy Chief Bruce Franca said. That spectrum was formerly used in part for MDS channels one and 2 and is adjacent to spectrum that’s to be allocated to advanced wireless services. Franca said the testbed would be used to “look at new technologies, which would allow better sharing between govt. and non- govt. users. We haven’t really defined what that means. Is that cognitive radio? Is it preemption?” But Franca said no decisions have been made, and other bands are still being examined. Franca also said the Commission hasn’t done any additional H-block interference testing since agreeing to move forward with an eventual auction of the spectrum. “The Nokia tests were pretty well done and pretty extensive,” he told us. Franca also said the FCC is examining providing more spectrum for WiMax, potentially as either a licensed or unlicenced service.
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CTIA is nearing an announcement of an amber alert notification for wireless carriers, Pres. Steve Largent said Wed. at the conference. “We think that by being able to employ to 170 million subscribers across the nation we can make all of our children safer.” A CTIA source said the association was waiting to make an announcement after a contract was signed but a vendor has been selected. Largent said the program should be largely deployed in the 2nd quarter of 2005.
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CTIA said carriers agreed on multi-media messaging services (MMS) interoperablity. The Inter-Carrier MMS Working Group established guidelines allowing carriers to phase-in photo and messaging services. Currently, only subscribers of the same service can exchange photos and video messaging, which has slowed the growth of camera phones. CTIA Pres. Steve Largent said: “Few industries are more competitive than ours, but today we have proven that competitors can and will come together to better serve the consumer.”