[opendtv] News: FCC Chairman: Getting More Spectrum Crucial To Mobile Broadband
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 08:00:25 -0400
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/357104-FCC_Chairman_Getting_More_Spectrum_Crucial_To_Mobile_Broadband.php?nid=2228&source=title&rid=5250536
FCC Chairman: Getting More Spectrum Crucial To Mobile Broadband
Genachowski touts open internet, says mobile "essential" to future of broadband
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/7/2009 12:52:47 PM
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowksi Wednesday outlined what he called his
new "MBA at the FCC": a Mobile Broadband Agenda, for an industry he
says could be the key supplier of broadband going forward.
That plan will include reallocating spectrum from other users, and
applying network neutrality standards to wireless broadband, though
likely with a different standard for network management from that
applied to wired networks.
Its four principals include three carrots to the industry and one
stick. The carrots include freeing up spectrum, including
reallocating it from current users; "removing obstacles" to
deployment of 4G broadband; spurring competition; and (the stick):
open internet principles, though the chairman said they would take
into account differences between wired and wireless broadband.
"These are the goals on which I look forward to working with the
wireless industry and all stakeholders in the period ahead," he said.
That plan is according to a copy of the chairman's prepared remarks
to the wireless industry in a speech at a CTIA conference in San
Diego.
Number one on the list was freeing up spectrum. He said that while
new technologies and policies have increased spectrum efficiency, and
auctions have made more available, that will still not be enough.
"As this audience knows, it takes years to reallocate spectrum and
put it to use. And there are no easy pickings on the spectrum chart,"
he said. "But we have no choice. We must identify spectrum that can
best be reinvested in mobile broadband. That is something that we
have to work on together, across industries, and in partnership with
all stakeholders."
On the issue of removing obstacles to 4G deployment, Genachowski was
preaching to the choir when he said the FCC would propose a
shot-clock to speed the citing of new towers, pointing out that CTIA
had proposed the move.
On the issue of network neutrality and his proposal two weeks ago to
apply Internet openness guidelines to wireless broadband, the
chairman argued that "fair rules of the road for an open Internet"
would be a plus, preserving innovation and investment.
The wireless industry's major players expressed their doubts about
that in initial reactions to the proposal.
He said that Internet openness would be key to mobile broadband. He
reiterated that he believes mobile is the future of broadband. "More
and more I hear people say that broadband is the future of mobile,
and I agree. I also believe the reverse is true -- mobile is
essential to the future of broadband."
He said his network neutrality proposal is meant to clear up
confusion over "whether we do or don't have Internet openness
protections."
The goal, he said, "will be to develop sensible rules of the road.
Rules clear enough to provide predictability and certainty, and
flexible enough to anticipate and welcome ongoing technological
evolution."
What the aim is not, he said, is "heavy-handed and prescriptive
regulation. Our goal is to empower innovators, not lawyers," said the
Harvard lawyer.
He said there would likely be different standards for reasonable
network management for wired and wireless broadband. "Mobile poses
unique congestion issues, for example. Managing a wireless network
isn't the same as managing a fiber network, and what constitutes
reasonable network management will appropriately reflect that
difference."
The wireless industry has pointed out that there could be issue of
unexpected traffic on a single-cell site, say near a major concert
venue, that is not shared by a wired platform.
"I also recognize that the wireless industry has its own market
structure and competitive landscape which of course we'll analyze in
our proceeding. And I understand how well-intended government action
can lead to unintended consequences," he said.
"There shouldn't be any confusion. I believe firmly in the need for
the FCC to preserve Internet openness, whether a person accesses the
Internet from a desktop computer or a wireless laptop or netbook. I
also believe the question of how we accomplish that goal,
particularly in the wireless context, poses some difficult questions
-- questions that remain open and will be considered in the FCC's
proceeding."
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