After being rejected last year when it applied for a loan from the Dept. of Agriculture to offer rural broadband service, WildBlue is trying again, it told us Wed. WildBlue is “working with” the USDA’s rural development program to offer its satellite broadband service, said CFO Mark Adolph. The broadband loan program, part of the 2002 Farm bill, is administered by the USDA’s rural development program, formerly known as the Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
Satellite broadband is largely immune to topography and low population density, which drive up the cost for terrestrial carriers to serve rural America, the Satellite Industry Assn. told the White House in a white paper Fri. “Satellites’ ability to overcome these obstacles makes satellite broadband an essential component of broadband access for all American consumers,” the report says. SIA and some members recently met with the Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) (CD April 12 p8).
Satellite broadband is largely immune to topography and low population density, which drive up the cost for terrestrial carriers to serve rural America, the Satellite Industry Assn. told the White House in a white paper Fri. “Satellites’ ability to overcome these obstacles makes satellite broadband an essential component of broadband access for all American consumers,” the report says. SIA and some members recently met with the Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) (WID April 12 p5).
In asking the FCC to waive its antenna rules for the 11 GHz band, 5 organizations have “demonstrated a strong interest” in using smaller antennas in the band, said the Commission in the text of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released Tues. The NPRM was adopted at the March 22 meeting (CD March 23 p13). The FCC tentatively concluded that modifying the antenna rules could promote efficient use of the 11 GHz spectrum. It rejected arguments by the Satellite Industry Assn. (SIA) that the shared nature of band should “preclude” the Commission from changing its antenna rules. FSS operations are primary but limited in the 11 GHz. Microwave wireless services are co-primary. SIA has argued that changing the rules will stop any expanded use of the 11 GHz band. The NPRM is an outgrowth of a petition filed by FiberTower in 2004. The limitations on antenna size “reflect the technical sophistication of the communications equipment and the needs of the various users of the band at the time that the rules were adopted,” the FCC said. The comment period for the NPRM will be triggered when it’s published in the Federal Register.
The FCC voted Thurs. to seek comment on whether it should allow installation of smaller antennas by fixed service operators in the 10.7-11.7 GHz band. FiberTower, a wireless backhaul provider, requested the regulatory change in July 2004, saying it would allow the company to use much smaller antennas, which weigh 35 lbs. vs. 125 lbs. for the larger antennas, and cost 1/3 as much. But the proposal has been opposed by the Satellite Industry Assn. (SIA), which has raised interference concerns. Comr. Adelstein complained that the Commission took too long to release the rulemaking. “If we truly are going to be serious about promoting the deployment of spectrum-based services, and wireless broadband in particular, we must place a higher priority on moving these spectrum policy matters forward,” he said. Comr. McDowell said he hoped the FCC would wrap up the proceeding quickly. “Prompt action by the Commission really is essential so that the companies seeking relief, as well as others interested in entering the marketplace, can begin offering microwave backhaul service in the 11 GHz band in areas where 2-foot antennas are the most effective means of meeting customer needs,” he said.
The FCC is to vote at its March 22 agenda meeting on an item addressing proper regulatory treatment for access to the Internet using wireless networks. That item is one of 13 set for a vote. The FCC is to take up almost 180 requests for waiver or review, or both, of USAC decisions on USF funding, and an amendment of Part 101 of Commission antenna requirements for the 10.7--11.7 GHz band. The FCC will consider its congressionally required report on competition in satellite communications, it said. The Satellite Industry Association has pressed the Commission to treat other platforms as competing with satellite. The FCC shouldn’t leave in the final document market distinctions listed in the notice of inquiry lest they give Congress a distorted view, SIA said. An order on the ABC-Citadel merger and another on FM digital broadcasting also are set for votes at meeting. The Commission will take up 2 other media items. One deals with exclusive contracts for video service providers in multiple dwelling units. The other evaluates about 200 applications to build new or modified noncommercial educational FM stations.
With an FCC decision likely as early as April, parties from across the wireless world entreated the Commission one last time on proposals for creating a national broadband network for public safety. The comments lead inevitably to the conclusion that an FCC proposal for public safety in a late 2006 rulemaking is “deeply flawed,” the Assn. of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) said.
The Satellite Industry Assn. has been meeting with FCC aides to lobby for reverse auctions to be instituted for distributing universal service subsidies, according to several filings. The satellite industry has been paying into the Universal Service Fund, SIA Exec. Dir. David Cavossa said, but won’t be eligible to receive subsidies until the FCC declares broadband services eligible. If satellite operators ask for subsidies only for the customer dish and modem, the service could be less expensive than running cable, fiber or telephone lines to rural, remote areas, said Cavossa. SIA is proposing a pilot USF program to test its hypothesis in the market, Cavossa said.
The Senate late Wed. shot down 75-21 an attempt to remove the Interoperable Emergency Communications Act from the 9/11 homeland security bill. The Interoperability bill would set up a Dept. of Commerce grant program financed with proceeds from the license auction planned as part of the transition to DTV. The Bush Administration wants the grants handled by the Dept. of Homeland Security (CD March 5 p1).
The Satellite Industry Assn. told the Senate Commerce Committee it supports S-385, the Interoperable Emergency Communications Act. S-385 has been included in S-4, the 9/11 security bill, which was being debated at our deadline (see separate story). Pointing to Hurricane Katrina as showing satellite communications to be “uniquely resilient and redundant,” SIA said the bill is “a critical step toward ensuring” first responders can communicate “before, during and after any future emergencies.” SIA applauded the bill’s creation of a Strategic Technology Reserve to pre-position interoperable communications and require those communications to “be capable of re-establishing communications when existing infrastructure is damaged.” The bill mentions satellite services and equipment, SIA said.