WASHINGTON-Experts from the world’s leading wireless telecom standards bodies last week pledged cooperation on third-generation mobile phone technology, number portability, electromagnetic compatibility, fixed wireless access and health effects, despite signs of renewed hostility between the United States and European Union over 3G and rumblings within U.S. industry over the Clinton administration’s unsettled 3G spectrum policy.
Global standards organizations met in Williamsburg, Va., under the auspices of the Global Standards Collaboration and Radio Standardization.
“Much progress has been made on implementing IMT-2000 or third-generation mobile phone systems,” said Anil Kripalani, chairman of the RAST meeting and vice chair of the Telecommunications Industry Association’s technical committee.
Kripalani added: “The cooperation among the participating standards organizations of RAST and GSC, especially within the third generation partnership projects, is one of the reasons that the [International Telecommunica-tion Union] was able to make such rapid progress in this essential standardization area.”
But beneath the surface, there is anything but harmony as controversies brew on two fronts.
The Clinton administration, according to sources, was angered by a recent letter from European Commissioner Karel van Miert in which he reiterated plans to deploy 3G throughout Europe using technology championed by Finland’s Nokia Corp. and Sweden’s L.M. Ericsson.
Some in the U.S. wireless industry say EU policy effectively could block American firms from fully competing in the lucrative 15-nation market.
Van Miert’s July 22 letter also took a swipe at U.S. wireless policy, suggesting foreign firms could face barriers trying to enter this country’s 3G market as a result of Federal Communications Comm-ission rulings.
U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky and Com-merce Secretary William Daley, who in early July sought EU assurances of support for ITU-developed 3G standards (including Code Division Multiple Access and Time Division Multiple Access technologies used by many U.S. wireless firms), are expected to respond to van Miert’s letter shortly.
While harmonization of 3G technical standards appears to be progressing nicely in the ITU, the Clinton administration continues to differ with the wireless industry over 3G spectrum strategy heading into next year’s World Radiocommunication Conference in Istanbul. The White House is not as keen as some in industry on achieving 3G spectrum harmonization or in clarifying in ITU rules the acceptability of using cellular and personal communications services frequencies for 3G.
Another unanswered question is leadership: Who will lead the U.S. delegation to WRC-2000.
State Department international telecom official Vonya McCann was slated to head the U.S. team, but industry complained it wanted someone outside the government for the post.
Colorado Lt. Gov. Gail Schoettler, according to sources, is supposed to be that person. But the Clinton administration has not officially appointed her to the post. There’s another possible glitch as well. Even if she is appointed, the State Department can only pay her for six months. That means that unless she works on a volunteer basis, Schoettler would not begin official work until next January-less than six months before WRC-2000.
Whether WRC-2000 still will be held in Turkey (May 8-June 2), in view of the devastating earthquake on Aug. 17, is unclear.
On Friday, the Associated Press reported the Turkish government intends to add a 25-percent monthly surcharge on cellular telephone bills in that country as part of a plan to raise some of the estimated $20 billion required to repair damages.
