Verizon Urges Caution on Experimental Licensing Rules
Verizon is raising questions about whether the amount of time proposed rules for the Experimental Radio Service would allow for companies to object to experimental license applications when they are filed is adequate. FCC officials tell us the issue is starting to heat up. The commission is tentatively slated to take up a report and order at its Jan. 31 meeting on experimental licensing rules (CD Jan 11 p12), the main item on the preliminary agenda (http://xrl.us/bob7g7).
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The rules propose only 10 days to review applications for experimental licenses, officials said. Carriers need more time, Verizon said.
"We explained the need to provide CMRS licensees a minimum of 30 days to review all applications for experimental authorizations in their spectrum, the need for a clear process by which CMRS licensees would file objections to applications for experimental authorizations, and certainty that experimental authorizations would not be granted until after a CMRS licensee’s interference concerns have been addressed,” Verizon said (http://xrl.us/bob6yt). “We discussed the need for a process by which a CMRS licensee could request immediate cessation of experimental operations when the CMRS licensee or its customers experience harmful interference."
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials wrote to the FCC to express concern on “possible rule changes that would allow experimentation on frequency bands used for commercial mobile radio services without prior coordination” with the carrier. “Public safety agencies are increasingly using commercial services to enhance their communications capabilities,” APCO said (http://xrl.us/bob6zh). “Interference to a CMRS system from an experimental operation could interfere with critical public safety communications. In addition, there is the potential for wireless calls to 911 to be disrupted.”
In November 2010, the FCC sought comment on experimental licensing rules. “Our goal is to inspire researchers to dream, discover and deliver the innovations that push the boundaries of the broadband ecosystem,” the commission said at the time (http://xrl.us/bob6y7).