CTIA, NAB Disagree Over Interservice Interference

The FCC shouldn’t set a zero population-served threshold for interservice interference as proposed by NAB or the zero percent interference threshold proposed in the ISIX Further NPRM, said CTIA in reply comments posted in docket 13-26 Friday. Either standard for interference would be “impractical and unprecedented,” CTIA said. Instead, the FCC should adopt a simple “safe harbor” approach to interference prevention, and “decline to adopt proposals that would add even more unnecessary regulatory obligations for wireless licensees,” CTIA said. Block Communications said the commission should slow down in its approach to the incentive auction to deal with the potential interservice interference problems caused by the repacking. “No reviewing court will give the FCC extra points for getting the auction done fast if it fails to adhere to the basic requirements of the Spectrum Act,” Block said. NAB also said the framework of the auction was the problem -- specifically the variable band plan. The FCC also should study the issue of intermodulation interference to DTV signals, NAB said.