FCC to Take More Steps in Anticipation of Spectrum Crisis
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski will announce Thursday that the commission will act at its Nov. 30 meeting to seek comment on spectrum-related proposals affecting wireless carriers and broadcasters, the chairman said in an interview Wednesday. Genachowski, scheduled to headline the commission’s Spectrum Summit, will also warn that the nation’s spectrum deficit will hit 300 MHz within five years if, as analysts predict, mobile broadband traffic grows to as much as 35 times recent levels.
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"We're holding the spectrum conference because of the importance of the spectrum opportunity,” Genachowski told us. “The opportunities that come from leading the world in mobile are just immense, for job creation, economic growth, innovation in the 21st century. But we also know that there are real challenges, and the white paper that’s coming out tomorrow has very helpful, important new data on the scope and seriousness of the challenge and emphasizes the importance of moving as quickly as we can to tackle the looming spectrum crunch.”
Genachowski will propose lifting technical barriers so spectrum licensed to broadcasters can be used more easily for fixed or mobile broadband. He will also propose changes to the FCC’s licensing regime allowing more channel sharing by TV broadcasters, so a 6 MHz channel can be used simultaneously for two or more programs.
The FCC will also take steps to improve digital TV reception in the VHF bands, creating a more attractive option for broadcasters and freeing up UHF spectrum, Genachowski said. The UHF channels, 14-51, are seen by wireless carriers as more suitable for mobile broadband than VHF channels, 2-13, he noted.
The proposed changes would guarantee that the FCC is in a position to “move quickly” if Congress gives it authority to hold incentive auctions for broadcast spectrum, Genachowski said.
Genachowski will say Thursday that incentive auctions would be one of the most important tools available to the FCC to free up spectrum and that the move to the auctions is gaining momentum, he said. “We worked hard as part of the broadband plan to put together a proposal that would be a win-win,” he said. “That remains our goal, our intention, our desire, and what’s happening now is a very healthy process of discussing and debating the best ways to implement incentive auctions. I think that’s healthy. That’s the work that needs to be done.”
Also in November, Genachowski said the FCC will vote on a second notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comment on additional use of experimental licensing. “Experimental licensing already exists,” he said. “It’s played a role in being able to move forward on white spaces. We will look at a proposal to expand experimental licensing so that we can be in a position to encourage and grant more experimental licenses more quickly, with the main purpose of encouraging innovation, speeding time to market.”
The FCC will also consider a notice of inquiry on ways to accelerate “opportunistic use” of spectrum, including through secondary markets. “We know we need to drive more spectrum efficiency,” he said.
Genachowski will also announce Thursday the commission has formed a new Technology Advisory Committee to provide advice from industry on spectrum and other issues. Tom Wheeler, former CTIA president, will head the group, which will have a broad-based membership, Genachowski said.
Genachowski has made spectrum a top issue of his chairmanship and has warned of a coming crisis for more than a year, since a key speech at a CTIA conference in October 2009. The National Broadband Plan, released in March, offered a target of finding 500 MHz of spectrum for mobile broadband in 10 years, including getting 120 MHz from broadcast TV.
Asked about criticism that the FCC has moved too slowly to implement the national plan, Genachowski said: “I would say the record speaks for itself. We have a lot of work to do. The entire agency is working very hard every day of every week of every month to move forward on the broadband plan.” Genachowski said he hopes industry will “take this as seriously as it needs to be taken and work with us to develop an approach that’s a win-win.”