The Wireless Communications Association asked the FCC to schedule a re-auction of 77 broadband radio service (BRS) licenses forfeited after being issued by the agency in 1996. The move will “promote the deployment of advanced wireless broadband service to the public, particularly in the rural and underserved areas where many of these licenses are concentrated,” WCA said. “Moreover, new empirical evidence establishes that prompt re-auctioning these licenses will facilitate rapid transition of the 2.5 GHz band to the new bandplan adopted by the Commission in 2004 and promote the earliest possible deployment of wireless broadband services to Americans who reside within these BTAs.” The FCC sold licenses covering 493 basic trading areas (BTAs) in Auction No. 6, which closed in March of 1996. Authorizations were issued for all, but lost by 77 licensees who failed to pay. The FCC previously decided to delay the reauction until the completion of the BRS transition, or as late as April 2011. “WCA appreciates the benefit of providing auction participants with reasonable certainty as to what spectrum is available,” the group said. “However, that certainty would be provided by re-auctioning the 77 BRS BTA authorizations now. Reasonable auction participants will understand that, to the extent a BTA is not already undergoing transition at the time of the auction, the winning BRS BTA auction winner may have to act as the transition proponent pursuant to… the Commission’s rules to avoid losing its newly won license at the conclusion of the transition process.”
GENEVA -- The U.S. expects WiMAX to get a nod of approval during an upcoming ITU meeting of member countries, but debate lies ahead for global harmonization of frequencies for advanced mobile technologies. Limiting potential interference from satellites and protecting C-band are key U.S. issues in the debate, officials said, and harmonization of frequencies for aeronautical telemetry during flight-testing is also being pushed.
Everyone seems to agree that the FCC should allow vehicle-mounted earth stations (VMES) for satellite communications, according to comments filed last week. But there’s dispute over the extent to which VMES and current Ku- band users should have to protect one another. General Dynamics filed a petition for rulemaking on VMES in 2006, saying it would be valuable for military and emergency communications.
Broadcasters and wireless tower operators disagree about the savings offered by proposed changes to FCC rules on measuring interference to AM transmitters. Big savings will come if cellular tower operators could use computer models to gauge potential interference, said Ray Benedict, head of the AM Directional Antenna Performance Verification Coalition. Benedict said the proposal from the group of the largest U.S. radio companies augurs large savings for AM stations because computer modeling costs far less than field testing when replacing antenna gear or setting up new facilities. Wireless attorneys claim modeling could boost costs. But officials on both sides are optimistic about reaching a deal that addresses the cost concerns and provides the FCC with a template for an order that could arrive later this year.
A broad group of 29 executives at high-tech companies and public interest groups sent all members of Congress a letter asking for their support in opening broadcast “white spaces” for use in offering wireless broadband. Signers included companies like Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Intel, and public interest groups from the New America Foundation to the Consumer Federation of America. Supporters said they wanted to make clear to Congress before their upcoming recess the extent of support for opening white spaces.
The Southern Governors Assn. (SGA) endorsed a public- private partnership to build a nationwide interoperable public safety network, in a recently passed resolution. Collaboration between public safety and the wireless industry “will allow the public safety community to harness the power of the commercial markets, software, high-speed digital networks and advances in radio technology,” an SGA resolution said. The Assn.’s leadership also sent a letter May 15 to DHS Secy. Michael Chertoff, FCC Chmn. Martin and NTIA Dir. John Kneuer.
Chmn. Martin circulated but subsequently withdrew an order that would scuttle M2Z’s proposal to build a free, nationwide wireless broadband network in the 2.1 GHz band, in favor of auctioning the spectrum, sources said. The order denied M2Z’s petition for forbearance and launched a proceeding on service rules and procedures for an auction. Several other companies, including Speedus Corp.-backed NetFree, have also contended for the spectrum.
Sprint Nextel told the FCC progress has been slow and the going tough as it relocates nearly 1,000 broadcast auxiliary service (BAS) licensees to the new 2 GHz band, one of a series of commitments Nextel made as part of the FCC’s 2004 800 MHz rebanding order. Sprint Nextel said the BAS transition could take another 2 years -- well past an expected Sept. end date. A progress report said rebanding has proven “far more complex than originally anticipated,” with Sprint facing “unforeseen, unavoidable complications.”
GENEVA -- World Radio Conference (WRC) negotiators may consider spectrum allocation for long-range ship tracking, electronic newsgathering, safety at sea and continuing protection of aeronautical radiocommunication services when they meet later this year, officials here said.
GENEVA -- Work on frequency issues for development of IMT-2000 and systems beyond IMT-2000 are ongoing at the technical level, said the co-chair of a working group of the Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) preparing for the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC). The hope is to do the work before CPM ends, but much remains to be done, she said.