Public safety groups and Motorola urged FCC to adopt channelization plan that could accommodate 802.11 technologies in part of 4.9 GHz recently allocated to public safety operations. But several commenters on proposal that would clear way for high-speed digital technologies for emergency communications in band differed on who should be eligible to use that spectrum beyond “traditional” public safety entities. Representing critical infrastructure providers such as utilities, United Telecom Council (UTC) said FCC should adopt eligibility definition that would include entities such as pipelines and railroads that coordinate with public safety during emergencies. However, Assn. of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) backed narrower definition that would prevent fire, police and emergency medical entities from having to compete with others for that spectrum. One point of agreement across broad range of comments was that 50 MHz allocation in further notice approved by FCC in Feb. was important for homeland security, but still fell far short of spectrum needed for public safety operations.

One of major themes of new technology developers and equipment makers in comments this week sought by FCC’s Spectrum Policy Task Force has been need for more spectrum for unlicensed devices and bands for rapid testing of new technology. “Cisco believes that these ‘unlicensed’ networks have the potential to create an entirely new broadband network for all Americans,” company said. It urged FCC to allocate spectrum specifically for unlicensed data networks and called for “spectrum etiquette rules” to mitigate interference and allow for more efficient use of those bands. Among task force questions concerning Part 15 was whether types of permissible unlicensed operations should be expanded, what rule changes would be needed to accomplish that and how to put that spectrum to its highest valued use as congestion of those bands increases. FCC Chmn. Powell created the task force earlier this year to explore far- reaching spectrum policy issues, ranging from Part 15 overcrowding to whether spectrum in rural areas should be regulated differently from that in urban markets.

When granting additional flexibility for spectrum use, several wireless carriers and equipment makers urged FCC this week not to change rules in “midstream” for incumbent licensees that already had paid billions for licenses. Wireless and satellite companies, new technology developers, broadcasters and public interest groups filed close to 200 comments on questions from agency’s Spectrum Policy Task Force. Relatively high number of comments poured into Commission despite Office of Engineering & Technology’s refusal of several requests to provide extension of July 8 deadline. Public notice last month raised policy questions ranging from potential need to redefine harmful interference to whether rural spectrum should be covered under policy different from urban areas (CD June 7 p1). Some developers of emerging technologies stressed need for FCC to provide clarity in its Part 15 rules for unlicensed devices and to furnish more spectrum as demands increased. Several large carriers, including Sprint and Cingular, urged FCC to keep intact auctions of exclusive allocations and said market- based tools such as auctions worked only if license-holders had clearly defined rights.

Terrestrial carriers’ comments on integrated MSS-ATC systems were “riddled with factual and legal errors and distortions”, Globalstar said in ex parte filing. Globalstar said separate filings by AT&T wireless on April 1 and joint filing by Cingular Wireless and Sprint on proposed integration of ATC-MSS systems in 2 GHz band, L-band and 1.6- 2.4 GHz band needed to be corrected. Globalstar supports ICO proposal for flexible use by ATC and MSS licensees in all available MSS bands (CD June 17 p6). Wireless opponents have accused ICO of shrewd spectrum grab (CD May 31 p3) and asked that Commission auction spectrum sought by company. Satellite official said issue could be decided within 60 days.

At least 3 FCC proceedings could affect 2 GHz band allocations, so FCC should stay action on mandatory negotiating period for 2 GHz band relocation order, all 4 major TV networks and 6 other broadcast companies declared. Broadcasters said proceedings had created “tremendous uncertainty” about band, making it “virtually impossible to engage in any meaningful relocation negotiations.” It also said mobile satellite users hadn’t attempted to engage in “meaningful” negotiations.

BOSTON -- Attendees at Wireless Communications Assn. (WCA) show here Tues. urged FCC to update operational and technical rules for MMDS and ITFS licensees to reflect use of band that once was home to one-way video services but now is eyeing how to compete better against cable and DSL in broadband arena. “One fairly common theme I've heard from the various constituencies involved in this band is that current rules are in need of fixing, [although] they may have been a good first step at the time they were done,” FCC Wireless Bureau Chief Thomas Sugrue said. He and other officials in bureau that recently inherited all MMDS policy in FCC reorganization urged industry to provide proposal on rule changes by Sept. “I would urge you not to let it slip much beyond that, we are anxious to get going,” he said. Industry is crafting proposal that would provide rules in band that more closely resembled those for PCS, which offers flexibility for wide range of uses. Related issue raised repeatedly was how to address interleaved nature of ITFS spectrum, with several industry representatives calling for more flexibility.

Following what wireless industry called “Herculean effort” in Congress that passed legislation delaying 700 MHz auctions, FCC followed suit Wed. by postponing bidding and planning for much smaller auction this summer, as directed by Congress. After whirlwind of Senate and House votes derailed timing of lower 700 MHz auction late Tues., attention on Hill and industry turned to larger spectrum issues that new law buys extra time for policymakers to address, including proposed spectrum relocation fund, 3G viability assessment, 800 MHz reconfiguration proposals. Rep. Pickering (R-Miss.) told reporters Wed. that moving bill that would create trust fund to reimburse federal agencies that had to relocate from bands auctioned to commercial users was “achievable priority” this year. Industry sources said they also expected release shortly of viability assessment from Administration that could free up close to 90 MHz, rather than 120 MHz that industry had sought, for 3G services, with trade-off being that bands would carry assurances of being usable in relatively short term.

FCC received more than dozen petitions for reconsideration of its March ultra-wideband (UWB) order, seeking review on wide array of issues, ranging from power limits to transparency of device testing that Commission had planned over next year. Petitions reflected similar split of views that had made original proceeding controversial, including filings from numerous UWB developers that cited types of devices that couldn’t be deployed under certain provisions they argued were more restrictive than needed to protect against interference. Among companies that urged FCC to tighten certain power limits and not add flexibility to others were Sprint, Cingular Wireless, XM Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, Satellite Industry Assn., Air Transport Assn., Qualcomm. They cited continuing interference concerns, characterizing limits of final order as insufficiently protective for systems such as GPS, PCS wireless systems, satellite radio.

Radar detector industry has “completely solved the problem” of interference to VSATs, and recent complaints to FCC are nothing more than “quibbling in the band,” said Radio Assn. Defending Airwave Rights (RADAR) attorney Mitchell Lazarus. RADAR represents radar detector manufacturers. Led by VSAT operators Microspace and Hughes Network Systems, satellite operators said radar detectors were causing interference and urged Commission to adopt rules to limit emissions (CD June 10 p1). Lazarus and RADAR officials in ex parte filing with FCC Mon. outlined concerns with satellite industry’s effort to regulate radar detectors.

Broadcasters again asked FCC to delay Sept. 6 deadline for mandatory negotiation period for 2 GHz band relocation (CD Dec 4 p8, July 6/00 p3). In letter to FCC Chmn. Powell, NAB and MSTV said mobile satellite service (MSS) operators had engaged in “no substantive relocation negotiations,” despite approach of deadline. They said FCC was seeking comments on proposals for MSS to use spectrum for terrestrial services or to reallocate spectrum to other wireless services: “If the use for this spectrum does change -- as all interested parties seem to agree it should -- then the relocation plan to facilitate the original MSS allocation must be changed as well.” Broadcasters said relocation was squeezing broadcasters’ ability to use frequencies to relay news reports from remote sites, such as disaster scenes. NAB and MSTV cited recent meeting of FCC’s Media Security & Reliability Council, which it said emphasized importance of media in keeping public informed in times of crisis: “Without the ability to transmit pictures and sound from news events, the immediacy and vibrancy of news coverage would suffer greatly.”