Public Safety Bureau Set to Give Small Carriers 700 MHz Relief
Small carriers who have complained to the FCC about the lack of interoperability in the lower 700 MHz band are poised to get more time to build out in the 700 MHz B block, under an order set to be handed down by the FCC Wireless Bureau, we've learned. However, the bureau does not provide more time for AT&T and Verizon Wireless, which also own B-block spectrum, to build out beyond the June 13 deadline. The notice is set to be released Wednesday.
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Unlike most other carriers, Verizon did not complain about a lack of interoperability and would not benefit from relief under the logic of the bureau-level public notice, agency officials explained. AT&T also would not benefit from the relief since it is among a handful of carriers who have already filed a notification that they have met the interim benchmark.
In December, the Wireless Bureau sought comment on complaints from various small carriers seeking an extension or a waiver of the buildout requirements. The carriers cited “two primary reasons: (1) lack of interoperability in the 700 MHz band, and (2) their ‘meaningful efforts’ undertaken to meet the Interim Construction Benchmark,” the notice said (http://fcc.us/ZJFnUY).
Small carriers hope FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski will circulate an order requiring interoperability before he leaves the agency (CD April 1 p1) in the next few weeks. A year ago, the commission released a notice of proposed rulemaking examining issues related to a mandate (http://xrl.us/bn98rf). Genachowski and other officials said then that the FCC should put off imposing any requirement until industry groups have a chance to work out a voluntary agreement.