National Broadband Plan to Be ‘Broad’ Document, Gottlieb Says

“The plan will set out both a series of objectives and goals regarding spectrum, as well as some of the wireless issues that are related but don’t always involve spectrum decisions,” Gottlieb said. It will be a “roadmap” for making decisions on a number of short, medium and long-term issues facing the commission, he said. “One of the topics we'll take up is where will the spectrum in the long term come from to continue to support the growing and ever more popular global broadband ecosystem.” He said the plan will address the future of spectrum blocks awaiting FCC action, such as the AWS 3 band. “The different bands are in a variety of different procedural postures,” he said. “The items that might come out on each of them … could be different.” The plan will address the future of spectrum blocks awaiting FCC action, such as the AWS 3 band, Gottlieb said. “The different bands are in a variety of different procedural postures,” he said. “The items that might come out on each of them … could be different.”

No decision has been made on whether commissioners will be asked to vote on the plan, Gottlieb said. “That’s something that the commissioners and the chairman are discussing among themselves.” Agency officials said Thursday a vote seems likely but not certain.

Gottlieb said he welcomed filings from the Department of Justice and NTIA on wireless competition (CD Jan 5 p1). “Basically, lots of what DOJ was saying was quite consistent with the [notice of inquiry] on wireless competition, which in particular focused on the link between spectrum policy, auction policy and competition in the wireless market,” he said. This year will be important as the one all major wireless carriers are expanding or launching 4G service, he said. “There’s a lot of important work that the FCC has to do to help accelerate that, things like carrier siting, 700 MHz wireless mics, which the commission will take up shortly, and other items that will accelerate the build out of these 4G networks.”

Gottlieb and the other wireless advisors all also commented on the net neutrality rulemaking, expected to be a top commission priority following release of the broadband plan. “Obviously, my boss has been very interested in the issue of ensuring an open Internet for quite sometime,” said John Giusti, aide to Commissioner Michael Copps. “He was very interested in the original issues of net neutrality. … We need to look closely at what the differences are in a wireless environment from a wireline environment” Charles Mathias, aide to Commissioner Meredith Baker, said his boss “remains still unconvinced about the need for rules right now.”

“Commissioner McDowell certainly is committed to openness,” said Angela Giancarlo, his chief of staff. “We are very interested in looking at what the parties tell us about the state of the marketplace, whether it is through their written comments or through the series of workshops that are planned. Commissioner McDowell is not convinced at this point that there is any market failure that requires correction. This would apply not just to wireless, but to all technology platforms -- fiber, wireline, satellite, etc.” Giancarlo said McDowell is interested in hearing from executives, investors, engineers and others with real world experience. “I would encourage all of you to please find your experts among your clients and get them involved … in helping us create a meaningful record,” she said.