FCC, NTIA See Rocky Road Ahead for 3G Wireless Spectrum

It will be difficult to locate and reallocate spectrum for third generation (3G) wireless services, according to the FCC (www.fcc.gov) and NTIA (www.ntia.doc.gov), which have spectrum allocation authority in the United States.

Both federal agencies released reports March 30 that explain how tough ahead the road will be to get spectrum for 3G, which is intended to bring broadband Internet access to portable devices. The reports address two spectrum bands identified by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU, www.itu.int) 2000 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-2000) for possible 3G uses.

"Both reports conclude that substantial challenges lie ahead in any efforts to accommodate 3G systems in the bands studied," says Matthew J. Flanigan, president of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA, www.tiaonline.org).

Flanigan added that TIA doesn't necessarily agree with all of NTIA's conclusions and the group will continue to explore options.

The FCC and NTIA reports address the 1710-1885 MHz band, which currently is used by federal agencies and which is subject to NTIA jurisdiction, and the 2500-2690 MHz band, which now is used for MMDS and ITFS and which is subject to FCC jurisdiction.

The FCC report, "Final Report: March 30, 2001: Spectrum Study of the 2500-2690 MHz Band: The Potential for Accommodating Third Generation Mobile Systems," says that the MDS industry has invested several billion dollars to develop broadband fixed wireless data systems in this band, including high-speed access to the Internet.

These systems offer a huge opportunity for further competition with cable and DSL services in the provision of broadband services in urban and rural areas, according to FCC staffers.

The report says that this spectrum is already heavily licensed throughout the country, that it would be technically difficult to segment or share the spectrum, and that relocation could cost between $10.2 billion and $30.4 billion.

The NTIA report, "The Potential for Accommodating Third Generation Mobile Systems in the 1710-1850 MHz Band: Federal Operations, Relocation Costs, and Operational Impacts," says this band is used mainly by the Department of Defense.

The DOD uses it for services such as tracking and commanding for space systems; medium-capacity, conventional fixed microwave communications systems; military tactical radio relay systems; air combat training systems; and land mobile video functions such as robotics and surveillance.

There are significant obstacles to use spectrum in this band by 3G services, according to the NTIA report. Satellite control, for example, "could not be completely relocated until all satellites using this band have expired, which could be as late as 2030," according to the NTIA report.

At NTIA, the 3G wireless industry is arguing with the military over who will use spectrum in one band. It also is debating with private sector ITFS and MDS users before the FCC over who will use spectrum in another band.

Currently, spectrum is a national resource that is allocated by license by the federal government, "in the public interest," according to the FCC.

FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth said in a statement that the government shouldn't be making spectrum allocation decisions.

"When government intervenes to impose its own view of the highest valued use of spectrum, there is a significant risk that government will get it exactly wrong," Furchtgott-Roth said. "Ultimately we must have faith that the marketplace is the best mechanism to chose among commercial applications for spectrum."

FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell shares some of that same sentiment.

Overseas, the European Commission has urged closer coordination in the rollout of 3G services and has asked 3G licensees to share their network infrastructures to cut costs and speed service rollouts.

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