Two senators are promoting use of Wi-Fi wireless broadband as alternative to cable-DSL debate that has resulted in impasse in Congress. Sens. Allen (R-Va.) and Boxer (D-Cal.) are circulating “Dear Colleague” letter that encouraged more unlicensed spectrum be devoted to broadband.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began testing ultra-wideband (UWB) devices last week in effort to make initial assessment by year-end on potential impact of new technology on avionics systems. FAA, along with Depts. of Transportation, Defense and NASA, is among agencies that expressed concerns about potential interference of UWB in safety-of-life frequencies. “We do anticipate that there will be some problems based on what we know about UWB types of devices,” FAA Program Mgr. George Sakai said: “To what degree, we don’t know. This is why we needed to do some actual testing.”

With Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) poised to take reins of Senate Commerce Committee, industry observers are expecting deregulatory agenda. Leadership change also appears to give FCC Chmn. Powell powerful ally on Capitol Hill. Broadcasters may have biggest interest in McCain’s agenda, especially as some observers believe he will use position to push for free air time for political candidates, 2nd phase of his campaign finance reform agenda. Media ownership also will be prominent and digital TV issues probably will receive more attention, we're told.

Rep. Markey (D-Mass.), ranking minority member of House Telecom Subcommittee, wrote to FCC Chmn. Powell Fri. urging him to adjust Commission rules and frequency allocations in effort to promote widespread availability of technologies and services utilizing unlicensed spectrum, thus creating “Spectrum Commons.” WiFi wireless Internet protocol is one of leading technologies to use unlicensed spectrum. “If additional unlicensed frequencies can be put out into the marketplace sooner, entrepreneurs and high-tech companies will be freed up to experiment, innovate, invest, and challenge marketplace incumbents in meeting the wireless needs of consumers,” letter said: “By making such additional frequencies available quickly and without the administrative delay of auctions, it is possible for these new, ‘disruptive’ wireless technologies to assist in rejuvenating a key sector of our economy and to create jobs.” Markey cited FCC’s agreement with NTIA to open 90 MHz of spectrum for advanced wireless services, but said that spectrum was not likely to be available for several years. Clearance of that spectrum will require additional govt. funds, he wrote, and some areas may not be cleared until Dec. 2008. “The real world economic impact of the additional 90 MHz, therefore, will be many years off,” Markey said. Consumers will be forced to continue relying on current wireless licensees to meet the “burgeoning” marketplace demand for wireless networks, including wireless links for broadband access, he said. Unlicensed wireless protocols such as 802.11 have been “bright spot in a telecommunications sector otherwise stuck in the doldrums,” Markey said. He also cited proposed Wireless Technology Investment and Digital Dividends Act (HR- 4641) that includes provisions to make additional unlicensed spectrum available. “Spectrum commons” portion of bill “challenges” FCC and NTIA to develop plan that would establish a 20-MHz band of contiguous frequencies below 2 GHz, as well as between 3 and 500 MHz between 2 GHz and 6 GHz, letter said. Markey described continuous frequency as “a significant swath of the airwaves that would remain open to the public and unlicensed and thus open for entrepreneurial investment and experimentation.” He asked that Powell by Nov. 13 present his plans to make available any additional frequencies for “spectrum commons.”

MARRAKESH, Morocco -- Although they insist telecom issues are technical, not political, Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) were unable to avoid politics in negotiations on a resolution calling on ITU to continue helping latter rebuild telecom infrastructure. Both view adoption of resolution as one of key actions taken at Plenipotentiary (Plenipot) Conference here. Not surprisingly, however, each side has different take on decision’s significance. While resolution ultimately won overwhelming support from ITU member states, final version was arrived at only after intense negotiations led by Plenipot Pres. Nasr Hajji, secy. of state to Prime Minister in charge of posts & telecom & information technologies, U.S. and other countries. Fact resolution was adopted without need for vote was important, source said, because issue had come close to derailing other ITU meetings.

Multipoint Distribution Service (MDS) and Instructional TV Fixed Service (ITFS) licensees urged FCC Wireless Bureau Mon. to move away from “broadcast-style approach” to regulating spectrum, saying changes were needed to widely deploy next-generation systems for wireless broadband. Wireless Communications Assn. (WCA), National ITFS Assn. and Catholic TV Network said that with changes, MDS and ITFS systems could provide same type of high-speed wireless broadband service as Wi-Fi but on ubiquitous, rather than hot-spot, basis.

FCC Wireless Bureau postponed auction of license in 1670-1675 MHz band to April 30 from Oct. 30, granting request of ArrayComm for 6-month delay. While ArrayComm had cited need for more time based on downturn in telecom capital markets, FCC public notice said only that postponement was to “provide additional time for bidder preparation and planning.” Auction involves one national 5 MHz license. Earlier this year, FCC approved order implementing service rules for 27 MHz in 7 separate bands that had been reallocated to nongovt. from govt. use, including this 5 MHz at 1.6 GHz. New short-form application filing window will open March 18 and close March 25, with upfront payments due April 11. Mock auction will be held April 25. Itron, which supplies automatic meter reading equipment to utilities, had opposed delay, while Space Data and Telephone & Data Systems asked FCC to provide more time. AeroAstro said in recent comment period it wouldn’t oppose delay.

Itron, which supplies automatic meter reading equipment to utilities, opposed ArrayCom request to FCC to postpone auction of one 5 MHz license in 1670-1675 MHz band. Citing downturn in financial markets that has made it difficult to raise capital for auctions, ArrayCom sought 6-month delay of bidding, until April 30. FCC adopted order earlier this year implementing service rules for 27 MHz in 7 separate bands that had been reallocated to nongovt. from govt. use, including 5 MHz at 1.6 GHz. Itron has nationwide authority to operate wireless meter reading equipment in 1427-1432 MHz on secondary basis and is potential bidder in 1670 MHz auction. Itron contended ArrayCom hadn’t provided Commission with sufficient justification to postpone auction and that delay would defer rollout of new services to public in that band. Itron said that if agency concluded economic conditions supported delay, “it should consider reducing the upfront payment amount and the minimum opening bid, but it should not delay the benefits of new services to the public in order to satisfy the financial needs of one particular company.” Itron said there was no guarantee telecom financial markets would turn around in 6 months. Itron also rejected ArrayCom’s making comparison to decision to postpone bulk of 700 MHz auctions, which were to have started June 19 until Congress indefinitely delayed bidding for all but smaller licenses in lower band. Itron said: “Congress delayed the auction of the bulk of the 700 MHz spectrum not because potential bidders were facing difficulties in raising money for the auctions, but because the telecommunications policy and spectrum management principles regarding this particular portion of the spectrum were unsettled.” FCC last week revised schedule for auction, for which short-form applications had been due Sept. 25. New date for those filings is Oct. 1, with upfront payments due Oct. 15, mock auction Oct. 25, with auction beginning Oct. 30.

Group of radar detector manufacturers plan to focus on compliance with timeline laid out in FCC order that required those devices to meet Part 15 limits on emissions in 11.7- 12.2 GHz band to prevent VSAT interference. Industry coalition Radar Assn. Defending Airwave Rights (RADAR) had withdrawn July 26 petition for partial reconsideration and FCC Office of Engineering & Technology dismissed it without comment this week (CD Sept 17 p5). “We still think that the FCC’s schedule is unnecessary, unworkable and unprecedented, but on the principle that life is short, we will drop our opposition to the schedule and devote our efforts to attempts to comply,” RADAR attorney Mitchell Lazarus said. Group of 6 radar detector manufacturers hadn’t challenged technical rules but did so on compliance timeline. FCC recently provided 30 additional days for retail compliance until Oct. 27.

Without elaboration, FCC’s Office of Engineering & Technology turned down July 26 petition for partial reconsideration filed by radar detector industry. Group of 6 radar detector manufacturers challenged part of Commission decision that required those devices to meet Part 15 limits on emissions in 11.7-12.2 GHz band to prevent VSAT interference that units had been causing (CD July 22 p1). While manufacturers didn’t challenge Part 15 limits, they sought more time for implementation. Order had required that radar detectors made in U.S. or imported into country comply with new technical rules within 30 days of Federal Register publication and that radar detectors marketed in U.S., including units sold at retail, start compliance within 60 days of publication. Industry group Radar Assn. Defending Airwave Rights (RADAR) wanted FCC to require compliance by Dec. 31 and allow distribution pipeline to empty at its own pace or to compel retail compliance by July 1. In recent response to stay request by RADAR, which covered same points as petition for partial reconsideration, Commission granted limited relief, providing 30 more days for retail compliance, until Oct. 27.