CTIA Senior Vp. Govt. Affairs Steve Berry told reporters after Co...

guaranteed that Defense Dept. spectrum couldn’t be taken away without military users’ being compensated for moving and given comparable spectrum. Industry isn’t interested in “repealing or significantly changing” 1999 act, possibility that Defense Dept. has raised in recent weeks as being problem if that’s part of 3G wireless legislation (CD June 6 p1). Instead, industry, which has been discussing 3G draft legislation on Capitol Hill, is working to meet DoD concerns that it be given more stringent safeguards that military users will be paid to move and that any potential transition out of existing spectrum would occur in phased-out manner that would protect operations, Berry said, in response to questions. “We're having really good discussions with DoD,” he said. He characterized as positive recent reports in defense trade press that U.S. Air Force had put price tag of nearly $3 billion on potentially moving some of its systems. Berry said he didn’t think it was likely that 3G bill would drop in Congress before July 4 recess. Extra time is positive because it means DOD “can get comfortable” with concepts in draft legislation, he said. Interest of industry is in bill’s moving forward on timeline that allows workable solution to be reached, Berry said. “Right now we want to keep our options open,” he said, reiterating that CTIA would like to see Administration push back July target for FCC to make spectrum allocation decision. That change can be made without budget scoring impact because delay in allocation decision wouldn’t have immediate impact on end date for auction, he said.