The Wireless Communications Assn. asked the FCC to reject M2Z’s p...
The Wireless Communications Assn. asked the FCC to reject M2Z’s proposal to build a 20 MHz national broadband network in the 2155-2175 MHz spectrum band, warning of possible ill-effects on its members. “M2Z’s application fails any relevant public interest…
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standard - indeed, a grant of M2Z’s application would stand Congressional auction policy on its head and, among other things, put ongoing wireless broadband deployments at risk by exposing Broadband Radio Service channel 1 and 2/2A licensees in the 2150-2162 MHz band to potentially destructive interference,” WCA said. Paul Sinderbrand, WCA gen. counsel, told us his group had specific concerns but also questioned the proposal more broadly: “Our concern is that granting the proposal starts the Commission down a slippery slope… Congress has found that generally auctions are the best mechanism for awarding speech when there is more than one person interested in using it… It’s not obvious that the M2Z proposal is the highest and best use of that band.” The M2Z proposal attracted nearly 250 comments. An M2Z supporter said 230 of those comments were in support and about 10 opposed. Carriers were particularly vociferous in opposing the plan. M2Z lined up endorsements from EDUCAUSE, the Media Access Project, Public Knowledge, the Minority Media & Telecom Council and the National PTA.