Globalstar, HIA Intensify Lobbying on TLPS
While another route to broadband access in schools is laudable, it's outweighed by the public interest of people with hearing loss being able "to fully participate in society" due to their hearing aid connectivity via Bluetooth Low Energy deployed in…
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the 2.4 GHz band, the Hearing Industries Association (HIA) said in an ex parte filing posted Tuesday in FCC docket 13-213. It recapped a meeting between HIA Executive Director Andrew Bopp and staff of Chairman Tom Wheeler at which Bopp said Bluetooth LE "is threatened by Globalstar's proposed use of the 2473-2483.5 portion of the 2.4 GHz band" for its broadband terrestrial low-power system. As well as degrading functionality of hearing instruments, TLPS could interfere with Bluetooth LE advertising channels, HIA said. In a statement Tuesday, Globalstar said Bluetooth representatives taking part in TLPS demonstrations early this year at the FCC's Technology Experience Center "proved that our operations on Channel 14 have no perceptible impact on Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids. While everyone who attended those demonstrations heard it for themselves, unfortunately, the Bluetooth representatives have decided not to share their data, including the audio files, to either the Commission or Globalstar." TLPS critics have been especially busy lobbying in recent days with numerous ex parte meetings (see 1512140046). In its own ex parte filing posted Tuesday, Globalstar said its general counsel held meetings with a Wheeler staffer and a representative of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel to argue for TLPS approval. In its filing, Globalstar said it reiterated the benefits of TLPS as shown in demonstrations at the Technology Experience Center and the FCC's Maryland lab, and in pilot tests at a university in Chicago and at the Washington School for Girls in the District of Columbia. It also said it "has made it a priority to meet with interested parties in an effort to find common ground on key issues," saying it "enjoyed a productive dialog with the public interest community." But Globalstar said "discussions with corporate entities and special interest groups have been far less productive [because they're] composed of and controlled by corporations with the incentive to maintain the status quo and stifle innovative uses of the ISM [industrial, scientific and medical] band regardless of the demonstrated benefits to consumers."