Genachowski Reaching Out to Pentagon on Spectrum
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has reached out to Department of Defense officials first hand on making more spectrum available for wireless broadband, he said in a press conference following the FCC’s meeting Friday. DOD is a major spectrum user and a key player in talks with federal officials over freeing up more spectrum for sharing or reallocating for a future auction. Half the meeting had a wireless focus, with the FCC approving an order designed to spur greater use of microwave for wireless backhaul. The meeting was the third August session in a row where the commission addressed wireless backhaul rules.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
"As you know, it’s vitally important to our economy that we free up more spectrum for mobile broadband,” Genachowski said. “The NTIA is doing very important work and thinking creatively about ways to do that. Because it’s extremely important, I've sought over the last few months to engage directly with senior officials in the Pentagon, in the Services, because I'm convinced that high-level, direct communications will increase the likelihood that our agencies can together develop solutions that will do two things: one, get more spectrum available to commercial users and, second, help the military address some of the challenges that it faces with spectrum and spectrum-based communications devices in the 21st century.”
The gap is growing between devices used by the military to communicate and those offered by carriers as “measured by functionality and price,” Genachowski said. “I do see the potential for win-win solutions in both making more spectrum available for commercial users and exploring a number of the sharing ideas which could help the military take advantage of the multi-trillion dollar global supply market for commercial communications devices,” he said.
Genachowski also said he wanted to make clear he still favors clearing spectrum for auction, where appropriate. “We also need to move forward with the new sharing ideas that have been developed,” he said. “It’s not an either/or choice. There may be some areas where clearing is not possible because of the complications of the equipment, because of the cost and because of the time delay, where sharing could provide a valuable alternative. And so that’s the course that I believe we should pursue -- continuing to clear and reallocate and also quickly and aggressively addressing new sharing opportunities in addition to the clearing and reallocation opportunities."
"You may not be aware of this, but August is national wireless backhaul month,” joked John Leibovitz, deputy chief of the Wireless Bureau. “Today’s report and order meets a number of the commission’s important goals, not the least of which is to update the rules to help facilitate the swift and ubiquitous deployment of 4G mobile networks and increase productive investment in these networks.”
The order, approved 5-0, permits fixed microwave operators to use smaller antennas in three of the most heavily used microwave bands, expected to drive down the costs for operators (http://xrl.us/bnja9p). The order adopts a Rural Microwave Flexibility Policy, which relieves operators in rural, non-congested areas, to build substantially longer links, eliminating the need for intermediate relay stations and also cutting operational costs, officials said. It also allows wider channels in two microwave bands, which is expected to mean faster data speeds for consumers and limits the cases when applicants need waivers to locate fixed microwave links near geo-stationary satellite facilities, harmonizing U.S. rules with international regulations.
The FCC also is seeking comment on other potential changes, including allowing smaller antennas in the 13 GHz microwave band, changing a special antenna rule applicable to the 11 GHz band and providing licensees more flexibility to resolve interference issues when they arise.
"Most consumers are unaware that their calls, texts and emails could not function without invisible, but critical, backhaul components,” said Commissioner Robert McDowell. “The commission is taking another step to spur the construction of advanced broadband networks in both urban and rural areas.” McDowell said use of a smaller antenna can reduce construction costs by as much as $2,000 for a single link.
"Backhaul transport is necessary to extend wireless service, but backhaul imposes significant costs on wireless carriers, especially in rural areas,” said Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. “As a consequence, carriers are increasing their reliance on fixed wireless service over microwave communications in order to reduce those costs. Between 2005 and 2009, the amount of backhaul traffic sent by fixed wireless increased from 8.7 percent, to 12.4 percent. So, rule changes that enable greater use of microwave communications is great news for wireless customers."
Commissioners Ajit Pai and Jessica Rosenworcel also welcomed the order. Pai said making wireless backhaul cheaper “can enable infrastructure investments and help address our pressing spectrum needs.” Pai noted that the cost of a single intermediate relay station can run $500,000. He also said he would welcome comments on whether it’s time for a “comprehensive review” of the FCC’s Part 101 antenna standards. “At their heart, these are rules that promote flexibility,” Rosenworcel said. “In doing so, they strengthen the foundation of our wireless systems by creating new opportunities to manage the deluge of mobile data that is already beginning to rush over next-generation wireless networks.”