TIA said it strongly supports an FCC proposal to reduce...

association said in a filing at the commission. “TIA’s members operate research campuses and labs where radio frequency is effectively contained, but like colleges, universities, and non-profit research organizations, face the burdensome and inefficient process of applying for multiple licenses to conduct research that drives innovation,” said Danielle Coffey, TIA’s vice president for government affairs. “Excluding for-profit companies from the FCC’s proposals will chill innovation, investment, job creation, and economic growth.” CTIA said it supports the use of experimental licensing to spur development of new technologies, but licensed wireless operations must be protected from harmful interference. The FCC “should make research program licenses available to wireless vendor and carrier laboratories, make innovation zone licenses available to single entities, and make medical program licenses available for testing all devices with a general medical purpose,” the association said. But Marcus Spectrum Solutions questioned whether changing the experimental licensing rules would have much benefit. “The present Part 5 Experimental License System is not a major obstacle to innovation and given the expected tightening of resources at FCC due to the budget situation it is questionable whether the proposals here have really significant enough impact on innovation to justify the diversion of staff effort from larger impact issues,” the company said. Proposed modifications to FCC rules could mean a flood of “uncertified, and potentially interfering and irretrievable, equipment,” said the Satellite Industry Association in an FCC filing. Controls are necessary before equipment is sold or leased in connection with a market trial, said SIA. While it “generally endorses” the proposed rules for experimental licenses, safeguards are needed, the association said. For instance, the scope of the program licenses should be clarified to prevent experiments “that are too far-flung,” said SIA. The spectrum available for the licensees should exclude safety-of-life services as well as fixed, mobile and broadcast satellite service spectrum ,because it can be hard to locate interference in those bands, said SIA. Experimental license applications should be granted within 14 calendar days of submission, unless objected to by NTIA, said the association.