AWS Band Plan Ignores Smaller Carriers, MetroPCS Says
The FCC plans for Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) band allocation are unduly skewed toward broad channel blocks and larger geographic areas, MetroPCS told the FCC, according to a recent ex parte. The ex parte was one of several filed with the FCC on the issue, including by CTIA, which supports the FCC plan.
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The proposed channel blocks (30 MHz and 20 MHz) and geographic regions, known as Regional Economic Area Groupings (REAGs), ignore the successful business models of smaller wireless carriers, MetroPCS said. “The problem presented by overly large spectrum blocks or market areas is exacerbated by the realities of the financing market,” MetroPCS said: “Carriers such as MetroPCS which are pursuing more localized business plans do not have financial resources as extensive of some of the nationwide wireless carriers.”
MetroPCS has proposed a band plan in which it said “spectrum is made available in a greater variety of geographic areas and an increased number of smaller spectrum block sizes so that carriers of all sizes will have a meaningful opportunity to acquire spectrum and compete in the provision of spectrum-based services.” The MetroPCS plan specifies a 20 MHz channel and a 10 MHz channel for licensing on a Major Economic Area (MEA) basis, which is ignored in the FCC’s plan.
Some, however, support the FCC’s band plan. CTIA said it believes the “AWS order appropriately provides for small business and rural entry opportunities in the AWS band…allowing significant bidding credit for small and very small businesses.” CSM Wireless also supports the suggested band plan, it said in an ex parte.