The FCC will consider the Frontline plan in an NPRM embedded into its 700 MHz band plan order, industry sources said Thurs. The same day, public comments responded to a pro-Frontline filing and mixed comments by Comr. McDowell Wed. (CD March 5 p1). Frontline proposal foes pounced, citing “needless uncertainty” and outlining criteria for proper use of public safety spectrum. CTIA Pres. Steve Largent attacked the plan in a letter to Chmn. Martin (R). Former Comr. Harold Furchtgott-Roth listed a set of criteria for safety spectrum allocations that ultimately didn’t favor the plan. Meanwhile, Public Knowledge and others filed ex parte recommendations for the 700 MHz band, including an open access proposal favorable to Frontline. (See separate story in this issue.)
Wireless Spectrum Auctions
The FCC manages and licenses the electromagnetic spectrum used by wireless, broadcast, satellite and other telecommunications services for government and commercial users. This activity includes organizing specific telecommunications modes to only use specific frequencies and maintaining the licensing systems for each frequency such that communications services and devices using different bands receive as little interference as possible.
What are spectrum auctions?
The FCC will periodically hold auctions of unused or newly available spectrum frequencies, in which potential licensees can bid to acquire the rights to use a specific frequency for a specific purpose. As an example, over the last few years the U.S. government has conducted periodic auctions of different GHz bands to support the growth of 5G services.
Chmn. Martin plans a vote on rules for the 700 MHz auction at the April 25 agenda meeting -- though he didn’t circulate an order Wed. giving colleagues the usual 3 weeks to study the item, sources said Thurs. Martin asked other FCC members to waive this rule. He’s expected to circulate an item as early as today (Fri.).
BPL may not see all smooth sailing even when it comes to duty in automated meter reading and remote control of home appliances, judging from filings with the N.Y. PSC. The BPL industry is banking on heightened regulatory focus in Congress and state emphasis on energy conservation and better grid management to get “risk-averse” utilities to adopt the technology to improve grid efficiencies and maintenance. In response to the N.Y. PSC’s advanced meter reading order, major power utilities seemed reluctant in filings to commit to BPL as the sole answer, and one rejected BPL because it’s still evolving.
The FCC should “embrace” the Frontline proposal and seek public comment on it, the Media Access Project said in a Tues. ex parte filing in the 9th NPRM docket. Media Access Project filed on behalf of Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, Free Press, New America Foundation and Public Knowledge, calling themselves the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition. The Frontline proposal would create a “national wholesale provider of… spectrum for competing wireless providers,” increasing competition, PISC said, adding that it also would improve “maximum competitive entry” in broadband wireless among both public safety entrants and women and minority-owned businesses. The coalition sought to change other auction norms, as well. The summer 2006 AWS auction “demonstrated that continuing to hold open, ascending auctions to distribute virtually unregulated licenses merely serves to enhance the stranglehold of incumbents,” the filing said, citing study results claiming to show that incumbents actively blocked “potentially disruptive” competitors from obtaining spectrum. The coalition also urged the Commission to take up the proposed Band Optimization Plan, and allow anonymous and package bidding.
Safety officials raised alarms about attacks on Cyren Call’s public safety broadband plan, citing a form letter to Congress that they say attorneys for Verizon Wireless have been circulating. Two public safety sources said they received copies of the letter and an accompanying brief laying out the case against Cyren Call (CD March 15 p7). Verizon Wireless wouldn’t confirm that the letter and brief were written on its behalf. The letter, intended to be signed and sent to Congress by supporters, says first responders need $1 billion in interoperability grants they are to get from the proceeds of an auction of 700 MHz spectrum. “Unfortunately, the Cyren Call proposal seeks to derail this progress and would stop the upcoming spectrum auction,” it says: “I respectfully ask that you support the spectrum auction and emerging efforts to develop a broadband network for first responders, so that further delays do not come at the expense of public safety and security.” A source contested a claim in the accompanying brief declaring that Cyren Call’s plan would “divert the spectrum to Cyren Call for free” if legislation the company seeks becomes law. “For Verizon’s attorneys/lobbyists… to suggest that Cyren Call is going to get the spectrum we are asking for is patently false,” the official said: “The spectrum in the Public Safety Broadband Trust proposal would be granted to the Public Safety Broadband Trust which would be managed by a board of directors with public safety representatives having the controlling votes. Cyren Call may or may not even have a part in the final management of the trust.”
The FCC is giving strong consideration to a proposal by Frontline Wireless, which suggests a market-based plan for a national public safety network. Chmn. Martin views parts of the plan favorably, sources said, because Frontline proposes an auction for the spectrum and seeks no special deal from the FCC. The Commission also is scrutinizing the possibility of allowing package or combinatorial bidding during the auction. That could help Verizon Wireless or any big company wanting to buy a nationwide license for the spectrum.
Sprint Nextel disagrees sharply with other carriers, and Verizon Wireless in particular, that public safety “has too much spectrum,” Robert Foosaner, Sprint chief regulatory officer, told us. Foosaner also said the FCC by statute must hold an auction of 700 MHz spectrum on a tight schedule, but it will have a tough time making a series of pending decisions about rules for the spectrum, especially in light of filings by Cyren Call and Frontline.
SAN JOSE -- Wireless broadband technology the FCC is expected to bless within 12 months will upend the cable-DSL duopoly, and with it markets for mobile devices, media and advertising, venture capitalists said. Partner John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers made the prediction about the Commission action at a meeting here of the Churchill Club technology business forum. Competitors from 3 other Silicon Valley firms agreed and elaborated. Doerr didn’t specify the kind of wireless broadband technology he had in mind, beyond mentioning WiMAX and the 700 MHz spectrum being freed in the DTV transition and coming up for auction.
Frontline Wireless asked the FCC Tues. to seek prompt public comment on its “working draft” of proposed changes to service rules for the 700 MHz spectrum band. Frontline’s proposal includes minimum requirements for public-safety spectrum sharing, network buildout, and coverage area, and designates spectrum bands for the plan -- all in basic accord with the general plan first proposed by Frontline last month (CD Feb 27 p2). The proposal drew praise from some industry sources but drew fire from rival Cyren Call.
ORLANDO -- FCC Chmn. Martin said Tues. he’s “sympathetic” to complaints by small carriers seeking mandates for “automatic” roaming. Martin also said he hopes the FCC will release rules for the 700 MHz auction in time to give small and mid-sized carriers the 6 months they want between the rules’ release and the auction. He called release of auction rules the FCC’s top priority. Martin also said the FCC should decide on regulation of early termination fees (ETFs) by year-end.