WASHINGTON-With the new year only days old, industry associations here are gearing up to continue old negotiations with the Federal Communications Commission and to begin new ones. According to Alan Shark, president of the American Mobile Telecommunications Association, 1996 will be the year when AMTA “gets back on track with a competitive foothold.”
“We have been in a transitional state for the last three years,” Shark continued. “With the FCC writing new rules, we’ve lost some competitive advantages in 800 MHz, 220 MHz and 900 MHz issues. We need some new strategies.”
Although admitting that AMTA membership as a whole does not present a united front for or against many private radio issues, Shark does predict increased unity this year. AMTA also wants to become a more market-driven group, perhaps reaching out to rural cellular, wireless cable and personal communications services operators.
Unlike other Washington, D.C.-based trade associations, AMTA-whose membership grew 13 percent last year-does not have one industry segment that it can use as collateral when bargaining with the FCC.
“When you have law enforcement plugged in, it’s not like having just an association speaking,” Shark said. “We don’t have that political clout. Instead, we have reason-this is the right thing to do. We also have the law-we can find something illegal in proposed rules. And we do more grassroots organizing.” In fact, AMTA members took to the mail en masse regarding 220 MHz issues and they are prepared to do so again.
Like all wireless users, the Associated Public Safety Communications Officers International Inc. is looking for spectrum, and it hopes the FCC’s Wireless Advisory Committee will reach a conclusion later this year regarding expansion channels.
“The goal is not to just complete the report, but to come up with spectrum allocations,” said Robert Gurss, counsel to the 12,000-member organization. “Public safety can’t participate in an auction environment. If channels need to be bought, taxes will go up.”
APCO is working on this year’s full-court FCC press. “The commissioners are recognizing that there are public safety issues,” Gurss said. “They all will say public safety is important, but commercial systems are sexier, and they gain the attention of policymakers.”
Following much prodding by APCO, there has been a warming by the FCC to public safety after what had been perceived as years of neglect. Along with forming the Wireless Advisory Committee, Wireless Telecom Bureau Chief Michele Farquhar has hinted about forming a public-safety division.
Look for the Industrial Telecommunications Association to be everywhere this year. “We need 50 more megahertz of spectrum for advanced technology,” said ITA President Mark Crosby.
Despite its need for new frequencies, expect to see fireworks regarding the FCC’s proposal to auction the upper and lower 800 MHz SMR bands in addition to the General Category pool.
Tom Wheeler, president of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, identified differences within the industry over technology standards and public health issues raised by wireless communications as key issues for 1996.
CTIA and the Personal Communications Industry Association are expected to continue pressing for tightened microwave relocation rules.
