AWS Band Plan Order Targeted For FCC Aug. Meeting
The Aug. 4 FCC meeting agenda includes a reconsideration order revising an Oct. 2003 advanced wireless services (AWS) spectrum band plan, according to an agency source. The order, originally set for the July meeting (CD June 20 p1), was held off by the Chmn. Martin’s office due mainly to complications from designated entity (DE) issues raised by Council Tree Communications in late filings, several sources said.
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The DE issues originally were expected to be resolved in the AWS order, but it’s unclear whether they'll be considered as part of the AWS order or separately. “It is still to be determined how to structure the order,” a source said.
Council Tree wants the FCC to limit bidding eligibility for licenses in AWS Block D (1735-1740/2135- 2140 MHz) to entities qualifying as small or very small businesses, or offer a 35% bidding credit there. In a supplement to its petition, Council Tree proposed ways to “repair, improve and ultimately preserve” DE incentives in AWS spectrum auctions (CD June 16 p12). “We are considering whether we should make changes to the designated entities rules,” another agency source said.
“We are changing the [AWS] band plan in light of the recent proposals,” an FCC source said. A plan by T-Mobile and the Rural Telecom Group has much industry support, especially among rural carriers. That plan proposes breaking the 30 MHz E Block at 1740-1755/2140-2155 MHz into 3 parts to create a 6th AWS license block, leaving the A, B and C Blocks unchanged (CD March 15 p8). A Verizon Wireless plan resembles the T-Mobile/RTG proposal in that it would create 6 license blocks, breaking E block into smaller licenses and placing 20 MHz of spectrum in RSA/MSA licenses. The difference is in the order in which the blocks are placed; Verizon Wireless also would put 10 MHz more spectrum in REAG licenses.
The FCC’s Aug. meeting is also expected to include the launch of a notice of inquiry into ways to minimize the impact of foreign carriers’ whipsawing actions on consumers, a source said.