Martin Endorsement of Broadband Optimization Plan Viewed as a Surprise
A band plan by Access Spectrum and Pegasus for the 700 MHz guard bands, known as the broadband optimization plan (BOP), was endorsed by Chmn. Martin last week during the House Commerce Committee’s FCC oversight hearing, in response to a question from Rep. Stupak (D-Mich.). But sources said Fri. Martin may retreat from his purported support for the plan.
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“I have heard that Martin answered the question wrong and may even put out a statement,” a source said Fri. Martin’s spokesperson and Chief of Staff Dan Gonzalez couldn’t be reached for comment. Other members of the Commission are still studying the plan.
“I was stunned that he would out of the blue be so positive about it,” said a lawyer who has followed the issue: “Certainly it has gotten a wellspring of support from public safety, so it would be reasonable for the chairman to support it.”
The lawyer noted that the BOP is multifaceted. On one level the BOP moves spectrum blocks around and giving public safety an extra 3 MHz of spectrum. “The other aspect is their commercial wireless plan, which reintegrates the guard band into the commercial spectrum,” the source said: “I took his statement to be supportive of the BOP, which public safety wanted, but not necessarily the 2nd part.”
Access Spectrum viewed Martin’s statement as a more complete endorsement of the company’s proposal. “Chmn. Martin’s endorsement of the Broadband Optimization Plan is a positive step for public safety communications and innovation in wireless broadband technology,” said Access Spectrum CEO Michael Gottdenker. “We have worked hard with the public safety community, with companies interested in advancing 4G technology, and many others to develop a plan that helps the nation’s first responders and advances wireless broadband technology… Chmn. Martin’s timely endorsement of the BOP is critical. The BOP has the vigorous support of the public safety community, and with public safety’s efforts and the Chairman’s support, we are extremely hopeful that the FCC will adopt the BOP in the coming weeks.”
The BOP has raised red flags among carriers. In FCC comments, CTIA said many questions remain, such as whether the Access proposal would create interference in the upper B and C block and lower C band block, to be sold by the FCC in the 700 MHz auction. The FCC auctioned the guard band licenses in 2000, but few of the winners have offered services. The future of the guard bands is one of the issues teed up as the FCC moves toward a 700 MHz auction this year.