Broader Implications Seen in Crown Castle Decision
The FCC approved a waiver request by Crown Castle letting the company transmit video and audio to cellphones using its Modeo service at up to 20 times previously authorized power levels. The order is especially important in suggesting that the FCC may also allow higher power levels for broadband PCS and AWS transmissions, sources said. CTIA asked for high power levels in the FCC’s biennial review.
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“This would allow a power increase that will allow carriers to deploy fewer numbers of base stations, reducing their costs significantly,” said a lawyer. “It’s the first time they've granted this type of relief. I think it brings them closer to doing it in other bands.”
Crown Castle asked for a waiver in Aug. 2005. The company got a license in 2003 to operate in 5 MHz of spectrum in the L band at 1670-1675 MHz. The company announced last month that Modeo had launched commercial quality mobile TV beta service in N.Y.C. after 3 years of development.
“This relief should allow Crown Castle greater flexibility in deploying its network while still ensuring that a number of important government-operated facilities are sufficiently protected,” Comr. Adelstein said in a written statement. Adelstein said the FCC should now act on the broader request for higher power levels proposed by CTIA. “This proposal appears to have wide-spread industry support, and we should resolve the issue without further delay if we truly want to provide the regulatory flexibility that is so important to promoting the deployment of wireless broadband services,” he said.
Comr. McDowell also said the order strikes a blow for “flexible” spectrum policy. “This is precisely the type of action the Commission must continuously and expeditiously take to provide the certainty necessary for our country’s entrepreneurs to forge ahead with advanced broadband offerings,” he said.