They say that if every side complains about a plan, it can't be all bad.
What I find amazing is that the FCC is actually LIMITING the use of a common spectrum for any
cellcos. That's so counterproductive to spectrum savings. Excuse me, but when the FCC pushes for
"shared spectrum" from among TV broadcasters, is it possible that it can't take that tiny
leap and see the wisdom behind "shared spectrum" even among cellcos?
Bert
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http://www.rethink-wireless.com/article.asp?article_id=2841
FCC's spectrum proposals under fire on all sides
Top two telcos fight satellite rules, broadcasters lobby against TV band plan
By CAROLINE GABRIEL
Published: 31 March, 2010
The spectrum proposals included in the FCC's National Broadband Plan are coming
under fire from all sides. The two major telcos, Verizon and AT&T, are fighting
against the rules governing the mobile satellite (MSS) network planned by private
equity group Harbinger Capital. And the MSS spectrum was supposed to be the easy
target in the FCC's aim of freeing up as much as 500MHz for mobile broadband.
Another area where it sees potential is in the broadcasters' spectrum, but they
were always expected to be hostile.
On the satellite front, Verizon and AT&T could face another competitor, to add
to Sprint/Clearwire, with a major spectrum swathe. The two telcos are already angry
at the restrictions placed by the FCC on the Harbinger spectrum. As a condition of
its acquisition of MSS operator SkyTerra, the private equity firm must pledge to
allow no more than 25% of the traffic on its wholesale network to come from the big
two.
AT&T said the 25% limit will give unfair advantage to competitors, such as Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile
USA, which will not have to get approval from the FCC to access the spectrum. "The Commission is
setting a very disturbing precedent when it implies that it may use allocation of spectrum to manipulate
the wireless market," Jim Cicconi, AT&T's senior EVP for external and legislative affairs, said in
a statement. "This action is manifestly unwise and potentially unlawful."
Paul de Sa, chief of the FCC's Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, wrote in
a blog post that the rules "provide some reassurance that the approval will ignite
new broadband competition while protecting the public from any potential harms."
Meanwhile, broadcasters have kicked off a ferocious lobbying battle over the
FCC's call for them to give up spectrum for wireless broadband use. The agency
wants to auction off up to 120MHz of spectrum from TV broadcasters, giving them
a share of the proceeds in return, but this requires the cooperation of the TV
players to proceed. The FCC's aim is to start the sell-offs in 2012 or 2013 and
clear the band by 2015.
"I haven't heard one broadcaster say 'I'm interested in giving back my
spectrum'," Dennis Wharton, a spokesman for the National Association of
Broadcasters, told Bloomberg.
The FCC claims the plan would not disrupt local TV services. If it does not get voluntary
participation from sufficient broadcasters it says it will examine other options, such as
"transition to a cellular architecture on a voluntary or involuntary basis",
increased spectrum fees or a shared usage model.
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