Broadcasters claimed victory Wednesday after the FCC released reports on Office of Engineering and Technology tests of devices designed to operate without causing interference in TV white spaces. But the White Spaces Coalition wasn’t conceding defeat, saying engineers for the coalition need to work with the FCC to better understand the results and how the tests were conducted.
Chairman Kevin Martin pulled a roaming order from the FCC’s agenda just minutes before the commission’s meeting got underway Tuesday afternoon. Sources said the FCC will likely take another look at small carrier demands that larger carriers provide them with automatic roaming for data in addition to voice.
The 800 MHz rebanding is taking longer than expected in some states, but a few are meeting their goals. The 800 MHz Transition Administrator (TA), created by the FCC to oversee rebanding, names Utah and Colorado as states where rebanding is progressing smoothly. TA Director Brett Hahn told us those states’ success shows that, given pressure and coordination, rebanding can occur quickly.
Automatic roaming is as important for data as for voice, SouthernLINC and 25 other carriers told the FCC. Cellular South, Comcast, Leap Wireless, the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, the Rural Cellular Association and United States Cellular were among those signing the filing. “Roaming for data services is a critical component of CMRS service,” the letter said, noting that soon data services may eclipse voice services, making it essential for the Commission “to address full and fair access to data as well as voice roaming in this proceeding.” The letter said “practical considerations” demand that data and voice be linked. “Data services are typically bundled in a single handset with voice services and are usually marketed in combination with mobile voice service,” it said, noting that consumers often demand and expect voice and data services in a single handset. “It makes no sense from a policy perspective to attempt to bifurcate these mobile services,” the letter said, noting that some question whether technology exists that can allow data roaming in all cases. “Technical issues frequently arise in Commission proceedings but have seldom presented insurmountable impediments to advancing the public interest,” the letter said. “Nevertheless, carriers in this proceeding have indicated that they are working on these solutions. We believe it is reasonable to presume that if a carrier is already providing data, voice or dispatch roaming to other carriers using the same air interface, the roaming service is technically feasible.”
Neutral Tandem (NT), locked in a fight with Level 3, claims the competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) illegally blocks traffic, refusing to terminate calls transmitted on NT’s system. The fight is playing out in a dozen states where NT seeks regulatory intervention.
The FCC likely will require wireless carriers choosing not to broadcast emergency alerts to subscribers to warn them of that, according to members of the FCC Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee, which met Wednesday. The group is on schedule to circulate a final report on Emergency Alert System warnings on cellphones in September, with approval before October 12, though issues remain unresolved.
To increase public safety, the FCC should move quickly to grant waivers of Part 80 of its rules allowing operation of Class B Automatic Identification System (AIS) devices, since no one opposes them, the U.S. Coast Guard said. If the FCC agrees, it will extend AIS to many more ships than now use the system. Large vessels and those sailing in international waters, such as cruise ships or freighters carrying cargo exceeding 500 tons, must carry Class A AIS devices that send vessel identification, location, speed and other data. Class B devices will be used in commercial fishing and recreational boats and other smaller vessels, it said. Among other comments in the proceeding, SevenStar Electronics called the devices are important to public safety. “Lives are being lost every day through simple collisions and navigational errors, and the more widespread, controlled use of AIS technology will help to reduce these tragedies,” the company said. The U. S. Marine Safety Association said: “It is important that approved Class B AIS equipment becomes available to the maritime community as quickly as possible. These systems offer significant advances in the safety and security of mariners, vessels, cargo, public and ports and therefore should not be delayed any further.”
The FCC is falling behind an aggressive schedule its Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) set last year to complete its white spaces proceeding and open the broadcast spectrum to use by unlicensed devices, sources said. High tech companies including Microsoft, Dell, Hewlett Packard and Intel and trade groups sent the FCC a letter asking it to complete the white spaces proceeding by October, in line with the OET timetable.
The merger of XM and Sirius in Canada is not a certainty even if the U.S. merger is approved by federal regulators, said John Bitove, CEO of Canadian Satellite Radio (CSR) Holdings. CSR is XM’s parent in Canada and reported financial results for the third quarter. “If it happens, there'll probably be conversations about what to do for our Canadian consumers. If it doesn’t happen, there will be no change,” Bitove said of the U.S. merger. “There’s really no point in doing anything until we know what’s happening in the U.S.” The merger came up during a call with analysts because of CSR’s recent contract with the NHL, making it the exclusive satellite operator in Canada carrying games through 2015. Bitove said the NHL deal does give XM a big advantage over Sirius in Canada. “Having the NHL is bigger than Howard Stern to Canadians,” he said. “We now have not only more channels but the most important programming piece.” He said the NHL deal will be highlighted by XM in advertisements. “You can expect us to be very loud and proud with the NHL,” he said. Among highlights of the quarter is the XM radio is now sold in 3,300 retail locations, up 500 this year. XM has 80 percent of the market share of satellite radios installed in vehicles in Canada and hit the 269,900-subscriber mark. Revenue was C$5.7 million for the quarter, up 144 percent over the year-earlier quarter. Overall, the company lost C$9.8 million in the quarter, C$3.4 million less than in the same quarter last year.
The International Trade Commission’s (ITC) order barring imports of new wireless devices containing Qualcomm chips could mean a $21.1 billion hit to the U.S. economy, said consultants to the company. The contention by the Brattle Group comes as Qualcomm and wireless carriers led by CTIA turn up pressure on President Bush to veto the ITC order.