Military effectiveness was compromised when DoD had to move to inferior spectrum to make room for commerce, DoD CIO John Grimes said Thurs. Commercialization of DoD spectrum and related issues are becoming more problematic, he said in remarks to an INPUT lunch. “Spectrum is starting to eat my lunch in many ways,” Grimes said.
Howard Buskirk
Howard Buskirk, Executive Senior Editor, joined Warren Communications News in 2004, after covering Capitol Hill for Telecommunications Reports. He has covered Washington since 1993 and was formerly executive editor at Energy Business Watch, editor at Gas Daily and managing editor at Natural Gas Week. Previous to that, he was a staff reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Greenville News. Follow Buskirk on Twitter: @hbuskirk
The FCC Wed. backed away, at least in part, from an order demanding blind bids in an advanced wireless services auction set to start in June. Blind bidding, strongly backed by FCC Chief Economist Leslie Marx, ran into a firestorm of protests from carriers large and small. Nonetheless, as the auction has neared, the FCC has seemed adamant on blind bids.
Chmn. Martin has started to circulate among his fellow commissioners an order that would give industry standard- setting groups the first cut at developing rules for making facilities-based broadband and interconnected VoIP services capable of accommodating law enforcement wiretaps, sources said Tues. The FCC approved a CALEA order for VoIP Aug. 5 (CD Aug 8 p1) at the urging of federal law enforcement and released an order Sept. 23.
The FCC is ready to act selectively against big wireless carriers for missing a Dec. 31, 2005, requirement that 95% of cellphones used by customers be location capable, sources said Tues. The extent of penalties is unclear. Carriers have been contacted by the Enforcement Bureau, sources confirmed.
Qualcomm accused MSTV of making a last-ditch effort to stall launch of MediaFLO, a service operating in the lower 700 MHz band that would allow transmission of high quality video, audio and data to mobile phones using a limited number of towers at high power levels. Qualcomm, which is working with Verizon Wireless on a launch as early as Oct., is trying to resolve one of the key issues that must be addressed before a nationwide rollout, it said.
LAS VEGAS -- Debate about when 4G wireless will supplant 3G as an aim of carriers building out networks crackled among wireless carrier officials at CTIA Wireless 2006. During the closing keynote, Spring Nextel COO Len Lauer said his firm will decide on 4G this summer. Top Cingular and Orange officials urged caution.
LAS VEGAS -- Ore. PUC Comr. Ray Baum -- chairing a NARUC-sponsored group offering the latest proposal for intercarrier compensation reform -- said he hopes to present a final version to the FCC by May 15. But he conceded that wireless and cable companies are generally unlikely to support that plan, and many members of NARUC and NASUCA have questions. Baum has asked industry to finish its review of the plan and report back by April 21.
LAS VEGAS -- Verizon Wireless is unlikely to pursue spectrum in June’s advanced wireless services (AWS) auction and 700 MHz spectrum when it becomes available, CEO Denny Strigl said. Verizon Wireless will decide over the next few weeks which spectrum to pursue, he said during a meeting with reporters at the CTIA convention here.
LAS VEGAS -- The FCC means to make sure wireless broadband services “are subject to the same kind of lighter regulatory touch” already provided “cable services and DSL services,” Chmn. Martin said in a keynote at CTIA’s convention, which opened here Wed. Along with making progress on wireless E-911 and public safety and the upcoming auctions topped his wireless agenda, he said.
The National Public Safety Telecom Council (NPSTC) warned the FCC in a letter to Chmn. Martin that unless progress is made to negotiate international agreements on 800 MHz in border areas, particularly with Mexico, 800 MHz rebanding is in trouble in some heavily populated areas of the nation. NPSTC represents key public safety groups and its comments are generally given weight at the FCC.