CCIA applauds the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on service,
technical, assignment, and licensing rules for flexible terrestrial use of
spectrum currently assigned to the Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) in the 2 GHz
band. CCIA strongly urges the Commission
to expedite its rulemaking process so that licensees in the 2 GHz band can move
quickly to deploy their planned mobile broadband networks.
As noted
last week in Politico, the Commission has fallen
behind in its efforts to meet the goals set out in the National Broadband Plan – making 500 MHz of spectrum available for
mobile broadband use over the next decade. 90 MHz of the targeted 500 MHz was to be spectrum currently
allocated for mobile satellite services that could be made available for
terrestrial deployment.
Unfortunately,
up to this point the Commission has failed to seize the low hanging fruit of
spectrum that is readily available for mobile broadband use.
Last
year, DISH Network requested a routine wavier of FCC rules so it could begin
preparations to deploy its planned mobile broadband network. DISH’s plan would have utilized 40 MHz
of MSS spectrum for providing mobile broadband services.
Instead
of granting DISH’s request and expediting this 40 MHz of spectrum for mobile
broadband use, the FCC denied the waiver and decided to handle the matter
through a rulemaking process.
Today the FCC released its NPRM on this matter; unfortunately,
rulemakings can take years to complete.
As noted above, CCIA requests the Commission expedite the MSS rulemaking
process.
LightSquared,
as has been well documented, has run into even more egregious delays in its
dealings with government agencies in its long-running effort to deploy a nationwide,
4G LTE mobile broadband network.
LightSquared’s planned network would use 20 MHz of MSS spectrum.
Most
recently, NTIA relied on a flawed testing process, skewed in favor of other
licensees, to report to the FCC that interference issues caused by GPS
receivers “listening in” on LightSquared’s licensed spectrum could not be
remedied. In response, the FCC abdicated
its responsibility to work with LightSquared by proposing actions that would
make it impossible for LightSquared to deploy its network in the foreseeable
future.
CCIA
believes the FCC and other Federal agencies must work with the private sector,
and companies like DISH and LightSquared, to utilize valuable and scarce
spectrum resources to deliver mobile broadband services. Rather than retreating at roadblocks,
the FCC should help find innovative solutions to enable companies that hold
spectrum licenses deploy their planned mobile broadband networks.
The
Commission should expedite the MSS rulemaking proceeding to enable DISH to
bring its network online as soon as possible. Further, as CCIA wrote last week in its Comments to the
FCC, the Commission should work with LightSquared to resolve any remaining
interference issues and allow LightSquared to deploy its nationwide network.
By moving
quickly to ensure additional spectrum is put to use for mobile broadband, the
Commission will move toward meeting the goals of the National Broadband Plan, increase competition in the mobile
broadband market from providers such as DISH and LightSquared’s wholesale
network (with its 30+ partners and customers), and help close the digital
divide.
