Defining the Wireless Spectrum
OPASTCO 3rd Annual Technical Symposium
Minneapolis, MN
September 28, 2005
Carri Bennet, CEO
Spectrum
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Advanced Wireless Services
Unlicensed Bands
700 MHz
BRS/EBS
AWS-2
MVDDS
Advanced Wireless Services
1710-1755 MHz and
2110-2155 MHz bands
Advanced Wireless Services
• November 2003: AWS Report and Order
– Permits flexible use in AWS bands
– Delays decision on band clearing
reimbursement.
– Open eligibility
– Fifteen-year license term
– Allows partitioning and disaggregation
– Small business = $40 million = 15% credit
– Very small business = $15 million = 25 % credit
Advanced Wireless Services
• 1710-1755 MHz and 2110-2155 MHz bands
– Previously allocated for federal government
use; Now being transferred for commercial
fixed and mobile application.
– Emerging Technology proceeding identified
these bands as ideal for deployment of 3G
services.
– Comments on NPRM filed February 2003
AWS Reconsideration
• Reconsideration petitions filed by TMobile, RCA and Council Tree
Communications
• T-Mobile and Rural Telecommunications
Group prepared modified band plan which
included 10 additional megahertz of
RSA/MSA spectrum
• Council Tree asked small business setasides
AWS Band
• Council Tree petition to be addressed in
proceeding initiated prior to AWS auction
– Proposed individuals with net worth
exceeding $3 million should not be allowed to
have a controlling interest in a DE
– Proposed that large, incumbent wireless
carriers should not be allowed to have any
material investment or operating relationship
with a DE if the licenses have a geographic
overlap
Remaining AWS Issues
• How will Council Tree issues be resolved?
– Will auction be delayed?
• How will existing government users be
reimbursed and relocated?
• How will BRS (MDS) 1 and 2A licensees be
reimbursed and relocated?
• What shape and form will auction auction
rules take?
AWS Lookin’ Good
• Great 3G spectrum in plentiful supply for
rural entities.
– Mixture of large and small geographic
service areas present unique spectrum
opportunities.
– Different sized carriers have different
spectrum needs.
• FCC “committed” to June 2006 auction
Getting Ready for AWS
• Do you need additional spectrum?
• What will spectrum be used for?
– Existing enhancements to CMRS
service?
– Fixed broadband data?
• Should joint partnerships be formed?
• Who else will bid in your area?
• Who will you have to relocate and how
much will it cost?
Unlicensed Spectrum
3650 MHz
5.8 GHz
Unlicensed Spectrum Options
• 3650 MHz Band
• FCC allocated additional spectrum for fixed and
mobile unlicensed use.
• Ideal for deployment of WiMax technologies
• Problematic on U.S. coasts where MSS facilities
operate; Wide open in rural areas.
• Petitions for Reconsideration ask for more
licensing.
• Additional spectrum at 5.8 GHz
700 MHz Spectrum
700 MHz Band
• Bills working through Congress for DTV
transition
– Barton: Dec. 31, 2008; Stevens: 2009
– Cable multi-channel must-carry and
converter-box subsidy still issues.
– Likely delayed by Katrina
• Deployments continue
• Qualcomm purchased Flarion
• Petitions ask to look at CMA license areas.
BRS/EBS
formerly known as MMDS/ITFS
• BRS/EBS Transition:
– Transition not yet underway for BRS
and EBS licensees.
– Petitions for Reconsideration cloud
issues for incumbent video operators
and rural operators.
– Spectrum increasing in value;
Equipment options still slim.
– FCC targets spectrum take-back and
auction in 2008.
AWS -2 Spectrum
1915-1920 MHz/1995-2000 MHz
2020-2025 MHz/2175-2180 MHz
AWS - 2
• AWS-2 Update:
– 1915-1920 MHz and 1995-2000 MHz
band
– 2020-2025 MHz and 2175-2180 MHz
band
– Reimbursement plan for microwave
users in the 1915-1920 MHz band in
place.
– No auction date set; May be auctioned
in combination with other services.
Multichannel Video Delivery
and Data Service
1390-1392 MHz; 1392-1395 MHz;
1432-1435 MHz Bands
MVDDS
• MVDDS auction- December 7, 2005
• AWS-3?
– 1390-1392 MHz; 1392-1395 MHz; 14321435 MHz Bands
– Likely similar rules to those for other
AWS bands.
– Likely use: 3G
Prepare
• While FCC is still focused on friendly
licensing areas for rural and small entities,
turnover at the FCC should be closely
monitored.
• AWS licensees may have opportunity to
deploy before some 700 MHz band
licensees.
• Prepare now
Existing Spectrum Opportunities
• T-Mobile
• Sprint SRA Program
• MVNO
Questions
Carri Bennet, CEO
[email protected]
202/371-1500