Howard Buskirk

In a potentially troubling development for wireless carriers, the FCC Fri. asked for formal comment on a petition for declaratory ruling asking the Commission to further streamline its rules on tower siting, in this case for towers that have already received wetlands clearance from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Multicast must-carry rules are on the “fast track” for approval at the Feb. 10 FCC meeting (see note on full agenda in this issue), Comr. Copps said Thurs. at a meeting with reporters. Copps indicated he would vote in favor of the rules, though he’s disappointed with the rulemaking process. Copps also said the Commission is overdue to move forward on intercarrier compensation (ICC) reform, starting with a vote at the same meeting on a proposed rulemaking. Copps encouraged companies and groups that quit the Intercarrier Compensation Forum (ICF) to consider rejoining.

Mexican and Canadian border areas are posing a significant problem for the 800 MHz Transition Administrator (TA) as it constructs a reconfiguration plan, the TA said in a filing with the FCC released Tues. Nextel has yet to agree to the 800 MHz plan devised by the Commission but must give a response by the end of the day Feb. 7.

In a major development for the telematics industry, GM and OnStar announced that the service will be standard on all GM cars in 2007. That means the wireless service will automatically come on all cars GM makes in the U.S. starting that year. It made 5 million last year.

Divisions appear to growing rather than narrowing between the various sides, including small and large ILECs, wireless carriers and the states, as the FCC readies a proposed rulemaking on intercarrier compensation (ICC) reform for its Feb. 10 meeting. Sources told us that as of Fri. the commissioners were just starting to consider the rulemaking and accompanying orders to address associated wireless issues.

The FCC has voted 5-0 to deny an AT&T petition seeking to halt deregulation of the Bells’ provision of special access services, we've learned. However, in a partial victory for AT&T and its allies the FCC will issue a further notice of proposed rulemaking posing several questions about the future of special access charges. The FCC was making last-min. tweaks to the item prior to the release of text, which could come as early as today (Fri.), we're told.

With a deadline fast approaching, Nextel has yet to say whether it will accept the FCC’s 800 MHz rebanding order. The carrier has until the close of business Feb. 7, which is less than 2 weeks away. In another important approaching deadline the Transition 800 MHz Transition Administrator (TA) has to send to the FCC by the end of Jan. 31 its plan for how reconfiguration should be completed, including which markets should go first.

The FCC is expected to vote at its Feb. agenda meeting on an order that would start the process of opening 900 MHz “white spaces,” or spectrum otherwise used for Business & Industrial/Land Transportation (BILT) service, for other uses, we're told. The FCC also will consider an order on giving Mobile Satellite Ventures authority to add an ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) to its mobile satellite services (MSS).

Major wireless carriers railed against a proposal to require that they use licenses they hold or give them up as part of a rulemaking on spurring wireless rollout to rural America. However, some rural interests said the proposal deserves consideration. The national carriers said a “keep what you use” relicensing proposal could reduce rather than increase investment in rural areas rather than more. These carriers also opposed “substantial service” renewal obligations, and proposed spectrum easements and spectrum underlays.

Wireless carriers, responding to an FCC request for comments, praised the FCC for moving forward on “market- oriented” policies for opening the secondary spectrum market but warned that a proposal to adopt a “private commons” model must come complete with controls to protect other incumbents.