The FCC is looking at 2155-2165 MHz for a potential spectrum testbed, a key recommendation of a June NTIA report on U.S. spectrum policy in the 21st Century, Office of Engineering & Technology Deputy Chief Bruce Franca said. That spectrum was formerly used in part for MDS channels one and 2 and is adjacent to spectrum that’s to be allocated to advanced wireless services. Franca said the testbed would be used to “look at new technologies, which would allow better sharing between govt. and non- govt. users. We haven’t really defined what that means. Is that cognitive radio? Is it preemption?” But Franca said no decisions have been made, and other bands are still being examined. Franca also said the Commission hasn’t done any additional H-block interference testing since agreeing to move forward with an eventual auction of the spectrum. “The Nokia tests were pretty well done and pretty extensive,” he told us. Franca also said the FCC is examining providing more spectrum for WiMax, potentially as either a licensed or unlicenced service.
Wireless Spectrum Auctions
The FCC manages and licenses the electromagnetic spectrum used by wireless, broadcast, satellite and other telecommunications services for government and commercial users. This activity includes organizing specific telecommunications modes to only use specific frequencies and maintaining the licensing systems for each frequency such that communications services and devices using different bands receive as little interference as possible.
What are spectrum auctions?
The FCC will periodically hold auctions of unused or newly available spectrum frequencies, in which potential licensees can bid to acquire the rights to use a specific frequency for a specific purpose. As an example, over the last few years the U.S. government has conducted periodic auctions of different GHz bands to support the growth of 5G services.
The FCC released an order early Tues. conditionally approving the merger of Cingular and AT&T Wireless. However, Comrs. Copps and Adelstein issued vigorous partial dissents, saying the order fails to address the effect on intermodal competition between wireline and wireless markets.
President Bush and challenger Sen. Kerry (D-Mass.) may have given their most detailed insight yet into their position on technology and telecom issues with their answers to a Computer Technology Industry Assn. (CompTIA) questionnaire. On some issues, such as intellectual property protection and Internet pornography, Bush and Kerry are very similar, analysts said. But the 2 candidates have large differences in other areas, such as broadband deployment.
The Justice Dept. approved Cingular Wireless’ (CW) acquisition of AT&T Wireless (AWS) on Mon., on the condition that Cingular divest holdings in 13 markets. The license transfers still require FCC approval, but the DoJ decision marks a big step forward in the process. The DoJ said CW agreed to the conditions, which require Cingular to sell AWS mobile voice assets in some areas and to sell AWS mobile broadband assets in other areas.
AirCell warned the FCC in a letter sent to the 5 Commissioners that indications from the FCC are that the Commission staff is recommending a single 4 MHz license, which AirCell warned would effectively hand Verizon AirFone a continuing monopoly in commercial aviation communications. The item is scheduled for a vote at the Nov. meeting but could still fall off the agenda. An official with Verizon questioned the AirCell arguments, saying all his company has asked for is an auction, not to be the winning bidder.
The Wireless Bureau is conducting a mock spectrum auction today (Thurs.) for students at McKinley Technology High School in D.C. “The students participating in the mock auction will better understand software development processes and also how auctions impact their daily lives (e.g., mobile phones, eBay auctions),” the bureau said. “The auction will also give them the opportunity to ask candid questions about potential careers.”
Wireless carriers led by CTIA are weighing a petition seeking reconsideration after the FCC issued an order late Fri. denying 3 carrier petitions seeking an end to designated entity (DE) set-asides for small players in the upcoming Auction 58. In a positive note for carriers, the FCC delayed the critical PCS auction 2 weeks to Jan. 26.
Chmn. Powell said Thurs. he hasn’t decided whether the Commission should take steps on its own to clear the 1.7 GHz spectrum occupied by the Dept. of Defense if Congress fails to pass the spectrum relocation trust fund bill (HR-1320). The comments came after the Commission approved 5-0 a “clean up” order that addresses some of the remaining parts of clearing the spectrum, which ultimately is to be auctioned for advanced wireless services (AWS).
The FCC’s Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age approved a resolution supporting a designated entity set-aside in upcoming Auction 58. The set-aside is controversial, with wireless carriers mounting a campaign to open up auction rules. “The often times capital-intensive nature of communications businesses and the difficulties experienced by entrepreneurial companies in accessing capital make it virtually impossible for entrepreneurial companies to secure valuable spectrum licenses when bidding against well-capitalized incumbents,” the committee said. “Entrepreneurial companies will be successful in raising the capital needed to acquire and build out valuable spectrum licenses only if the capital markets perceive that the FCC’s Designated Entity eligibility rules will remain stable and certain.”
Wireless carriers acknowledged Fri. they seem to be making little progress on getting the FCC to change course on upcoming Auction 58, the major PCS auction slated for Jan. Carriers led by CTIA have been pushing the Commission to changes the rules of the auction to eliminate the set-aside for “designated entities” of more than 1/2 the 234 10-MHz licenses up for sale.