U.S. To Open Additional Spectrum

date: 06th January 2001, source: Wireless.NewsFactor.com

As part of an ongoing quest to find additional airwaves for 3G wireless services, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced Thursday that the U.S. government is prepared to establish rules for relinquishing some of its spectrum.

Among the FCC's proposals are allocating government-owned frequencies, including the 1710-1755 megahertz (MHz) band, for commercial purposes; releasing the 1755-1800 MHz band for commercial mobile and fixed services; and providing the 2110-2150 MHz and 2160-2165 MHz bands for advanced telecommunications services such as 3G.

The proposed rules announced by the FCC are subject to public comment and modification and must be adopted by July to meet President Clinton's goal of holding auctions for 3G spectrum in July 2002.

The FCC said it will examine the spectrum requirements for next-generation mobile and fixed communications to determine if advanced services could use existing spectrum allocated for cellular, broadband personal communications and mobile radio services. Most spectrum is now held by the Department of Defense or licensed from the FCC.

Support from the NTIA

In response to the FCC's release of the proposed rules, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency within the Commerce Department, said it supports efforts to establish 3G wireless networks.

"The United States has to move aggressively to develop third-generation wireless if we want to be a first-class nation with respect to telecommunications and electronic commerce," said Gregory L. Rohde, NTIA administrator and assistant secretary of commerce. "The stakes are nothing less than our international competitiveness in electronic commerce and being a world leader in communications services."

Rohde urged industry representatives and consumers to participate in the effort to advance the development of 3G wireless services. "Comments on [the FCC's proposed rules] will help us determine to what extent existing allocations can be used for advanced wireless services such as 3G, [and to] assess whether additional spectrum allocations will be necessary and if so, how to meet the needs of incumbent users that will be replaced," he said.

Auction Reaches $12 Billion Mark

Meanwhile, after a two-week break for the holidays, the FCC's auction of existing available wireless spectrum resumed Thursday, with total offers reaching the US$12 billion mark.

Verizon Wireless is the top bidder, submitting offers of $4.06 billion for markets including New York, Los Angeles and Boston.

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