In its first major group effort since forming, the Wireless Communications Services Forum last week began delivering Requests for Information to equipment manufacturers in an effort to determine manufacturers’ capabilities and interest in the 2.3 GHz band.
The group, which was created by WCS license holders to advance development in the 2.3 GHz frequency band, identified four areas for the RFIs to cover, including wireless local loop, high-speed multipoint data, point-to-point backhaul and PACS services. The response deadline for the RFIs is Dec. 19.
“One thing is clear to those of us that have these licenses, and that is that WCS is a niche business opportunity,” said Scott Donohue, president of Coloma Wireless, a WCS license holder. “There will be some equipment manufacturers who are really enthusiastic about the opportunities and some who realize they can’t commit resources to it, and that’s one of the big things we’re trying to establish.”
The group was formed by licensees who are concerned a lack of a defined application for WCS would cause vulcanization of the licenses, with the effect of several different applications being provided at 2.3 GHz instead of a unified application. Donohue said that would make it difficult for licensees to get equipment in volume at reasonable prices.
The WCS Forum in August was vaulted into the spotlight shortly after it was formed when former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Reed Hundt released a statement saying the group was evidence of the viability of the auction process.
“The recent announcement that a forum has been established to promote a variety of uses for the newly auctioned Wireless Communications Services affirms the commission’s use of market-based spectrum policies to promote the public interest,” Hundt commented.
“The launching of WCS businesses within six months of establishing the WCS service and auctioning the licenses demonstrates once again why auctions are the fastest and most efficient means of getting licenses into the hands of those who value them the most and will provide service to the public.”
The 16 forum members split into four groups focused on targeting manufacturers and developing the RFIs for each proposed WCS application. Not all 16 companies are included in all of the four RFIs, said Donohue. The cover sheets accompanying each RFI included only the companies involved in that RFI and the number of POPs their licenses cover.
“What we try to do is give them a sense of the magnitude of these requests,” said Donohue.
The RFIs ask manufacturers to outline general interest and capabilities in each of the four areas, as well as specific technical questions. Donohue said the RFI process is not closed, and the forum has received several requests for RFIs from companies that were not originally targeted to receive the questionnaire.
The forum plans to hold meetings during the first quarter to interview interested vendors.
