The U.S. wireless telecom services industry has “enormously” contributed to the U.S. economy and needs a hands-off regulatory treatment to maintain a successful growth, speakers said at a CTIA event Mon. to release a study. In 2004, the wireless industry generated $118 billion revenue, and contributed $92 billion to the GDP, said the study by Ovum for CTIA.
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.
The FCC said it reallocated the 2155-2160 MHz band for fixed and mobile services and designated the 2155-2175 MHz band for advanced wireless service (AWS) use. The new AWS spectrum comes in addition to the frequencies already allocated at 1710-1755 MHz/2110-2155 MHz and 2020-2025 MHz/2175-2180 MHz. The FCC also launched a rulemaking on BRS channels 1 and 2 relocation.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Commissioners’ aides suggested the FCC will take a hands-off approach to wireless broadband much as it has with cable modem and DSL. On a CTIA conference panel here late Tues., advisers to Chmn. Martin and Comrs. Abernathy and Adelstein stressed the Commission’s emphasis on regulatory parity and the success it claims from its historically light touch with wireless. But a non-interventionist thrust doesn’t mean the FCC wouldn’t act on social obligations like security, 911 and access for the disabled, or act in response to market failures, said Fred Campbell of Martin’s staff.
Senate DTV legislation will be released to the public Oct. 19 when it’s sent to the Senate Budget Committee as part of the budget reconciliation process, Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) told reporters Thurs. Most committee staff said they haven’t seen a draft of the bill, though Stevens said last week that he would begin circulating a draft to members. “We're not releasing the text because it’s part of the budget process and we're not supposed to deliver until the 19th. So you'll see it on the 19th,” Stevens told reporters.
The FCC is likely to set performance rules for broadband radio service (BRS) and educational broadband service (EBS) licensees in the 2.5 GHz band at its Oct. 12 meeting, several sources said. It’s also expected to act on 20 petitions to reconsider a June 2004 ruling revising rules for ITFS and MDS operators in the 2495-2690 MHz band. The items could still fall off the agenda, given the FCC’s recent hurricane-related focus, some speculated. The FCC also is circulating a rulemaking on BRS relocation for channels 1 and 2. The latter is expected to be addressed in circulation.
Senate leadership set Oct. 26 as the new deadline for budget reconciliation, which puts DTV legislation back on track for consideration while giving lawmakers time to deal with funding for Hurricane Katrina. Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens told reporters Tues. he plans to meet with members the next day or 2 to brief them on DTV matters. In the House, Commerce Committee Chmn. Barton is still working on his bill. Sources said progress is being made on controversial provisions.
To ensure “reasonable sharing” of the 2496-2500 MHz band by BRS and unlicensed (Part 18) industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) operators, the Wireless Communications Assn. (WCA) Fri. submitted a revised proposal to the FCC. The new document aims to “eliminate any legitimate concern from the microwave oven vendors,” which opposed the original WCA request to protect BRS licensees from interference due to ISM operations. ISMs now need “at least a week to formalize the position and response to the proposal,” said a spokeswoman for the Assn. of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), which represents microwave oven manufacturers.
In carrying out the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA) and changing its bidding rules, the FCC should ensure that it doesn’t jeopardized the timing and outcome of the advanced wireless service (AWS) auction, the wireless industry told the FCC. That message was clear as wireless carriers commented on rule changes needed to implement CSEA.
NextWeb said it backs a Wireless Communications Assn. (WCA) position that “at least some of the 3650 MHz band be allocated to licensed spectrum.” Departing from a stance taken by Part-15 Organization (Part-15.org) -- one of the largest entities representing small wireless ISPs (WISPs) -- NextWeb said it “is finding it increasingly difficult to maintain reliable operations in the license-exempt bands,” despite frequency coordination efforts by the group Broadband Access Network Coordination (BANC). WCA wants the FCC to create two 25 MHz blocks licensed on an MSA/RSA basis. Both of the 25 MHz blocks in MSAs would be auctioned for exclusive use, the trade group said. So would one of the RSA blocks. The other RSA block would be made available under the FCC’s nonexclusive licensing regime, it said. WCA’s licensing plan calls for applying the FCC’s designated entity bidding credit rules and prohibiting package bidding. Part-15.org said it could back the proposal -- but only after many of its concerns are addressed (CD Aug 26 p7). “While Part-15.org certainly is entitled to its position, WCA’s WISP members are actively seeking exclusive-use spectrum,” WCA Attorney Paul Sinderbrand told us: “NextWeb’s filing is just the latest evidence that many of the more successful WISPs are abandoning their reliance on shared spectrum in favor of the certainty that comes with exclusive use licensing.” NextWeb, one of the largest operators in the license- exempt spectrum in the U.S. was a founding member of BANC, launched to coordinate unlicensed frequency usage among unlicensed WISPs in the San Francisco Bay area.
In an attempt to get small wireless ISPs (WISPs) to support exclusive licensing in the 3.6 GHz band, the Wireless Communications Assn. (WCA) revised its earlier proposed licensing regime. The new, primarily exclusive licensing plan, offers “sufficient interference protection and ensures that rural WISPs and others have access to spectrum,” WCA told the FCC late Wed. But smaller WISPs don’t seem to be impressed, saying many of their concerns should be addressed before they can support the proposal.