Demand for mobile broadband capacity is projected to outstrip wireless network supply in the next decade unless the federal government takes action to reform both commercial and government use of this finite public resource, the electromagnetic spectrum, to make it more efficient. Spectrum legislation passed the 112th Congress, as part of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. It authorized the FCC to conduct Incentive Auctions for which TV and radio broadcasters may choose to relinquish their licensed frequencies for future mobile broadband use in exchange for a share of the auction proceeds. The public safety nonprofit FirstNet will also be entitled to auction proceeds to help fund wireless operations of first responders. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department’s NTIA and the FCC had already started work on a spectrum inventory project in order to identify unused and underused commercial and federal government frequency blocks that may be re-assigned and/or auctioned for licensed or unlicensed wireless broadband use. All of these initiatives trace their origins to the 2010 National Broadband Plan that Congress mandated the FCC to develop.
In response to this year’s legislation, the FCC has initiated rulemakings on both commercial mobile Spectrum Holdings, and Incentive Auctions. CCIA supports FCC adoption of pro-competitive spectrum holdings limitations per frequency band so that the largest two companies in an already concentrated mobile broadband cannot increase their dominant market power via incentive auctions. All spectrum blocks are not created equal, but have different propagation characteristics that must be taken into account depending, for example on whether the frequencies are needed for congested urban use or rural use. CCIA also supports the reservation of some of the newly available spectrum for unlicensed use, including a significant portion that would be available on a uniform nationwide basis for the first time. Use of so-called TV white spaces and dynamic spectrum sharing by smart devices can increase the efficiency of spectrum use so that more wireless users can be accommodated for a diversity of functions.
Washington, D.C. — FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler announced a proposal today to update rules on the high-speed broadband connections that companies use to transmit data on everything from credit card sales to movies. Wheeler is asking the FCC to replace the current patchwork of regulations and update them for the 21st Century. If approved by…
Washington, D.C. — The House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Communications & Technology passed, on voice votes and without amendments, two bipartisan bills aimed at speeding up broadband deployment and providing incentives for future spectrum auctions. The first bill was a discussion draft that combined a handful of bills, including the Broadband Conduit Deployment Act…
Washington — As federal officials face several important policy decisions that will have a significant impact on the affordability and availability of broadband, CCIA is proud to be a member of a coalition of industry and consumer groups supporting the “Competify” campaign. The campaign, aimed at encouraging consumer choice and policies that promote affordable broadband,…
Washington – Days after President Obama weighed in on Open Internet rules, saying the Internet was too critical to let a few big network access companies become gatekeepers for content, one of those big companies responded with a threat. AT&T told Wall Street it may suspend its plan to invest $18 billion in broadband deployment…
Washington – Days after President Obama weighed in on Open Internet rules, saying the Internet was too critical to let a few big network access companies become gatekeepers for content, one of those big companies responded with a threat. AT&T told Wall Street it may suspend its plan to invest $18 billion in broadband deployment…
The FCC has now received 3 million comments on keeping the Internet open and preventing discrimination by Internet access providers. That record level of interest indicates the FCC now needs to hear from those outside the DC bubble in person. The FCC is obligated by law to protect “the public interest, convenience and necessity.” By…
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This is an non-necessary category.
