Wireless backhaul provider FiberTower told the FCC that much more must be understood about potential interference from satellite signals in the 24 GHz band before the Commission can allow unfettered satellite operations there. The comments came as satellite operators, and others interested, offered comments on proposed rules for providing satellite operators with what amounts to another 400 MHz of spectrum in the 17 GHz and 24 GHz bands.
Howard Buskirk
Howard Buskirk, Executive Senior Editor, joined Warren Communications News in 2004, after covering Capitol Hill for Telecommunications Reports. He has covered Washington since 1993 and was formerly executive editor at Energy Business Watch, editor at Gas Daily and managing editor at Natural Gas Week. Previous to that, he was a staff reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Greenville News. Follow Buskirk on Twitter: @hbuskirk
The recently concluded AWS auction was a major success, despite complaints by Council Tree and other designated entities seeking to overturn the results, the FCC told the 3rd U.S. Appeals Court, Philadelphia. The agency acted within its authority under the Communications Act in significantly curbing designated entities’ (DEs') ability to buy licenses at reduced prices and then sell them through the secondary market, it told the court.
The FCC Thurs. approved an order that will allow Qualcomm to start offering high speed video in spectrum it owns in the lower 700 MHz band through subsidiary MediaFlo. While the FCC imposed strict controls on interference to broadcast customers using adjacent spectrum, MediaFlo said the order will allow it to proceed as planned with a launch now expected in combination with Verizon Wireless in early 2007.
The FCC was still trying late Thurs. to reach agreement on the AT&T-BellSouth merger, stirring unease about whether the agency would be ready to vote by the new deadline of today (Fri.). The FCC late Wed. put off action on the merger and a related net neutrality item until 11 a.m. today, once it was apparent commissioners weren’t ready to vote during the open meeting Thurs. as originally planned (CD Oct 12 p1).
The FCC Thurs. opened the door to use of broadcast “white spaces” for wireless broadband, approving a long- anticipated rulemaking. But the Commission declined to make a recommendation on whether the spectrum should be offered purely for unlicensed use, as sought by Intel, Microsoft, HP, Dell and other major high-tech companies.
An FCC vote on the BellSouth-AT&T merger at today’s (Thurs.) meeting appeared in doubt at our deadline. Detailed talks between Chmn. Martin and the Democratic commissioners are just beginning, sources said and seem less advanced than at the same point before a July vote on the Adelphia/Time Warner/Comcast license transfer. Complicating things is that Martin leaves Sat. morning for Asia, making it tough to move the meeting date. Wed.’s DoJ approval came amid questions about Tunney Act oversight and possible department maneuvering to avoid it.
Supreme Court justices seemed receptive Tues. to arguments by operator Metrophone that it should be allowed sue a carrier to recover unpaid payphone charges. The court was hearing oral arguments in a case also involving Global Crossing. Legal experts said the case could have much broader implications, especially if the high court agrees with Global Crossing and significantly restricts private enforcement of the Communications Act.
T-Mobile nearly doubled its spectrum position across the U.S. in the AWS auction, T-Mobile USA Pres. Robert Dotson said Fri. in the carrier’s first comments since the auction. At the same time, the carrier will begin rolling out 3G to subscribers next year, making an initial investment of $2.6 billion. T-Mobile officials won’t need more spectrum for the foreseeable future, they said without specifically addressing the 700 MHz auction.
The UN Foundation and Vodafone are donating to Telecoms Sans Frontieres (TSF), and in return the aid organization will help U.N. emergency responders by meeting their communications needs in disaster areas. Their 5-year, $2 million grant will let TSF respond to more emergencies in more countries, TSF Pres. Jean-Francois Cazenave told reporters Thurs.
The 11th U.S. Appeals Court, Atlanta, modified its truth in billing decision to make clear it didn’t intend to throw out the entire March 2005 FCC order. The FCC and the CTIA had asked the court to change the “ordering clause” of the ruling to clarify that the court was dealing specifically with issues NASUCA raised (CD Aug 2 p1). The court voided an FCC finding that state rules requiring or barring line items on mobile carrier bills are rate regulation preempted by federal law. The decision is seen as a loss for wireless carriers and the FCC. The court agreed to a new ordering clause: “Because the Communications Act allows the states to regulate line item billing for wireless services, we grant the petitions for review filed by the State Consumer Advocates and the State Utility Regulators, vacate the preemption ruling set forth in the Declaratory Ruling in the Second Report and Order, and remand the case to the Commission.” CTIA, but not the FCC, has asked the 11th Circuit to rehear the decision en banc, but that’s considered unlikely, sources say. More likely: A Supreme Court appeal.