The FCC is ready to act selectively against big wireless carriers for missing a Dec. 31, 2005, requirement that 95% of cellphones used by customers be location capable, sources said Tues. The extent of penalties is unclear. Carriers have been contacted by the Enforcement Bureau, sources confirmed.
Qualcomm accused MSTV of making a last-ditch effort to stall launch of MediaFLO, a service operating in the lower 700 MHz band that would allow transmission of high quality video, audio and data to mobile phones using a limited number of towers at high power levels. Qualcomm, which is working with Verizon Wireless on a launch as early as Oct., is trying to resolve one of the key issues that must be addressed before a nationwide rollout, it said.
LAS VEGAS -- Debate about when 4G wireless will supplant 3G as an aim of carriers building out networks crackled among wireless carrier officials at CTIA Wireless 2006. During the closing keynote, Spring Nextel COO Len Lauer said his firm will decide on 4G this summer. Top Cingular and Orange officials urged caution.
LAS VEGAS -- Ore. PUC Comr. Ray Baum -- chairing a NARUC-sponsored group offering the latest proposal for intercarrier compensation reform -- said he hopes to present a final version to the FCC by May 15. But he conceded that wireless and cable companies are generally unlikely to support that plan, and many members of NARUC and NASUCA have questions. Baum has asked industry to finish its review of the plan and report back by April 21.
LAS VEGAS -- Verizon Wireless is unlikely to pursue spectrum in June’s advanced wireless services (AWS) auction and 700 MHz spectrum when it becomes available, CEO Denny Strigl said. Verizon Wireless will decide over the next few weeks which spectrum to pursue, he said during a meeting with reporters at the CTIA convention here.
LAS VEGAS -- The FCC means to make sure wireless broadband services “are subject to the same kind of lighter regulatory touch” already provided “cable services and DSL services,” Chmn. Martin said in a keynote at CTIA’s convention, which opened here Wed. Along with making progress on wireless E-911 and public safety and the upcoming auctions topped his wireless agenda, he said.
The National Public Safety Telecom Council (NPSTC) warned the FCC in a letter to Chmn. Martin that unless progress is made to negotiate international agreements on 800 MHz in border areas, particularly with Mexico, 800 MHz rebanding is in trouble in some heavily populated areas of the nation. NPSTC represents key public safety groups and its comments are generally given weight at the FCC.
Chmn. Martin is considering lowering significantly the financial threshold for disqualifying carriers from participating in the June Advanced Wireless Services auctions with designated entities, sources said Tues. They said Martin is floating revised restrictions disqualifying from joining with a DE to buy a license carriers with as little as $125 million revenue, vs. the $5 billion threshold that had been expected. A source said the revised threshold would be a major win for the national carriers and a loss for smaller carriers.
Cingular, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Leap Wireless, Edge Wireless, MetroPCS, along with the Rural Telecom Group, made a last-ditch compromise proposal to persuade the FCC not to order blind bidding in the June advanced wireless services (AWS) auction. Members of the group had meetings scheduled this week at the FCC. The item is expected on the Commission’s sunshine notice Wed. for the April 12 agenda meeting, which would cut off lobbying.
Boeing apparently will sit out the air-to-ground (ATG) auction, based on short-form applications filed at the FCC. Otherwise, interest in the auction appears strong, with 12 firms, including incumbent and favored competitor Verizon Airfone, filing. AirCell, Airfone’s likeliest challenger, is in the running. The auction, of spectrum to be used for inflight broadband on commercial airliners, begins May 10.