With WiMax potentially at the breakthrough point, the WiMax Forum is putting much of its emphasis on establishing a certification program for products, similar to a good housekeeping seal of approval, officials said. As carriers start to launch WiMax services, the forum is gently reminding the public that so far no products have been certified.

BOSTON -- Office of Engineering & Technology Chief Edmond Thomas said the pending 2nd report and order on ultrawideband, to be ready in the next few months, probably won’t break new ground beyond the first report, which UWB promoters say has helped spur rollout of the new technology. Thomas said the one issue of substance the order “may” take on is changing the rules for frequency hopping (FH), which has been one of the most contentious technical issues on UWB. Thomas was here late Wed. to make brief remarks ITU’s Task Group 1/8, which is struggling to develop an international position on UWB (CD June 10 p5).

Reaction was generally positive to the FCC’s adoption Thurs. of new band plans for the wireless, educational and satellite industries. “The hard work by the Commission and relevant stakeholders will lead to huge benefits for the public in receiving advanced wireless services under flexible use conditions, whether the user seeks mobile, portable or fixed services as optimal,” said Wireless Communications Assn. (WCA) Pres. Andrew Kreig.

The Wireless Communications Assn. asked the FCC to take at least 6 MHz of spectrum allocated to the Mobile Satellite Service to be used for the relocation of MDS channels 1 and 2 in an expanded 2.5 GHz band. An official said Fri. without the extra spectrum “it’s going to be virtually impossible to relocate MDS 1 and 2 licensees in markets that have not transitioned to the new bandplan. Unless the Commission does this the winners of the [advanced wireless services] licenses in those markets may not be able to deploy.” WCA also expressed the “strong sentiment” in a separate filing that the FCC shouldn’t freeze processing of new licensing applications between adoption of ITFS/MMDS rules and the implementation dates. The Commission is expected to adopt revised rules next week (CD June 4 p1). WCA made its case in a meeting with Wireless Bureau Chief John Muleta this week. “WCA does not believe that there will be any material harm caused to the transition process by allowing the continued submission and processing of applications during this period,” the group said: “To the extent that any application may be filed during this interim period that is designed to secure an unfair post-transition regulatory advantage, rather than to provide new or expanded service, the petition to deny process will allow interested parties to raise the issue and give the Commission ample opportunity to assure that the transition process is not delayed.”

Two draft preliminary views were approved, with corrections, at a Thurs. meeting of the 2nd Informal Working Group (IWG-2) for the next World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07). It was the group’s last meeting before the WRC Advisory Committee (WAC) meets June 8. While agenda item 1.21 -- proposing to look at studies on the compatibility of radio astronomy services and active space services -- caused little discussion at a previous meeting (CD May 13 p14), there were questions about the scope of several of the views presented. Discussions centered on the 3rd view, which suggested that the results of certain studies should be used to determine whether it would be appropriate to specify band pairs for compatibility. Ultimately, the group eliminated that view and modified the remaining views to say: (1) Resolution 740 (from WRC-03) would determine the band pairs and threshold levels that would be reviewed based on the results of compatibility studies. (2) If Table 1-1 or 1-2 from Resolution 739 (WRC-03) is updated, it should also be based on the ongoing studies. (3) “Any studies to develop thresholds associated with band pairs from Resolution 740 should fully consider the impact to the concerned active services in order to ensure that those active services are not unduly constrained.” No changes were made to a 2nd item (agenda item 1.6). Changes proposed in a previous meeting were adopted. The item requests consideration for allocation additional bandwidth for aeronautical mobile satellite services (AMSS) between 108 MHz and 6 GHz and a study of current allocations. IWG-2 also had lengthy discussions on several views prepared by the Radio Conference Subcommittee (RCS). Multiple proposals were made to the group for changes to RCS agenda item 1.19, which asks to “consider the results of the ITU-R studies regarding spectrum requirement for global broadband satellite systems” to look at harmonizing globally fixed satellite service (FSS) frequency bands for broadband. After considerable discussion, IWG-2 determined it would be more valuable to present a preliminary view rather than corrections to the RCS view. Final views will be determined on circulation among the group but IWG-2 came to the following tentative conclusions: (1) Identifying specific frequencies for broadband applications isn’t necessary. (2) The idea of making the bands more useful is a “supported” view, but the group doesn’t support replanning the band.

Groups that hold ITFS spectrum are seeking a last-minute meeting with FCC Chmn. Powell to head off a proposal that they give up 18 MHz of spectrum as part of a final rule on the MMDS/ITFS spectrum allocation, which is being circulated at the FCC for a possible June 10 vote. Sources in the ITFS community said Tues. they were caught off guard by the proposal that they give up bite size chunks of spectrum as part of the order.

Officials representing high-tech and wireless companies Wed. called on the FCC to allocate to promoters of wireless broadband services more low-frequency spectrum. The companies also said during an all-day FCC forum on the topic that resolving standardization issues will prove critical in coming months.

Draft versions of 2 World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-07) agenda items were introduced and tabled at a Wed. meeting of the 2nd informal working group (IWG-2). IWG-2 is looking at agenda items concerning satellite services and high altitude platform stations (HAPS). The group discussed agenda item 1.6, Resolution 415, which considers “additional allocations for the aeronautical mobile service in parts of the bands between 108 MHz and 6 GHz, in accordance with Resolution 414 (WRC-03) and, to study current satellite frequency allocations, that will support the modernization of civil aviation telecom systems, taking into account Resolution 415 (WRC-03).” While the issue was defined as looking at creating broader satellite frequency allocations to include civil aviation telecom systems and other non- aeronautical telecom services while remaining compatible with existing allocations, there was group discussion about whether the inclusion of “non-aeronautical services” was necessary. Draft author David Weinreich of Connexion by Boeing said it was important not to restrict the frequencies to only aeronautical uses, but also fixed satellite service (FSS) applications in remote areas. A 2nd draft for agenda item 1.21 created little discussion. The item proposes “to consider the results of studies regarding the compatibility between the radio astronomy service and the active space services in accordance with Resolution 740 (WRC-03), in order to review and update, if appropriate, the tables of threshold levels used for consultation that appear in the Annex to Resolution 739 (WRC-03).” IWG-2 plans to meet May 27 in order to finalize preliminary views on both agenda items before the June 8 meeting of the WRC-07 Advisory Committee.

Verizon Wireless told the FCC late Thurs. it would open bidding at $5 billion if the agency auctioned nationwide PCS spectrum at 1.9 GHz. The pledge by the largest U.S. wireless carrier upped the ante in the battle over 800 MHz rebanding. It came as the FCC neared a vote on a proposal to fix public safety interference, which wasn’t widely expected to entail an auction. Several sources cautioned Thurs. some plan details were still under deliberation, although a majority appears to have coalesced around key elements of a rebanding plan backed by Nextel and others.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) said any 800 MHz rebanding plan that involves relocating incumbents must be “self-financing.” In a letter to FCC Chmn. Powell made public Tues., Stevens said he wasn’t weighing in on either side the complex proceeding about mitigating public safety interference at 800 MHz. But he said that if Nextel must give up spectrum at 700 and 800 MHz to eliminate public safety interference, it must get replacement bands elsewhere. He said an auction wouldn’t be needed to do this.