Martin Confirms Imminent Death of Cellphones on Flights, Interference Temperature

Chmn. Martin confirmed Thurs. he has asked the Commission to terminate proceedings on cellphones on airplanes, and also on interference temperature as an aid for measuring and managing interference, as expected (CD March 22 p2, March 21 p1). Martin also told reporters after the FCC meeting the Commission has finished voting on new rules for carriers to protect customer proprietary network information (CPNI).

Martin said wireless industry concerns led him to ask that the cellphone proceeding be terminated. “We launched that proceeding, but many in the wireless industry expressed concern about whether or not it would create undue interference with terrestrial wireless services,” he said: “The record was still unclear as to whether it would create interference, so at this time it doesn’t make as much sense to go forward.” Martin said the Commission could revisit the issue if the FAA eventually clears the use of cellphones on commercial aircraft.

Martin said he asked fellow commissioners to agree to terminate a proceeding on interference temperature for similar reasons. “The industry expressed concern about that proceeding as well and about the potential for changing the underlying noise floor so to speak,” he said: “That could create interference with the commercial services that are out there… I don’t believe that we have a sufficient record to move forward with that and I view this as just something that as a result we should close out.”

Martin confirmed that the CPNI order has been adopted but not released. FCC sources said they expect imminent release.

Martin also said an order will be forthcoming on the application by Verizon to transfer to America Movil Verizon’s Telecommunicaciones de Puerto Rico subsidiary. “There’s a minor edit that the commissioners were trying to figure out where there’s a majority,” he said. The FCC pulled the proceeding from its agenda at the very end of the meeting after members of the FCC were unable to reach an agreement on an order. Sources said the transfer order was among the most contentious in the days before the meeting. Negotiations continued as the meeting was under way. Sources said questions were raised late in the process about Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim’s ownership interest in America Movil. In April, America Movil agreed to purchase Verizon’s 52% of Telecomunicaciones de Puerto Rico for $939 million.