WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission next month is expected to announce which sectors of the wireless industry will be able to use spectrum made available with the transition to digital TV, culminating in an auction for that spectrum by April 25.
The government is transitioning channels 60-69 (746-806 MHz) from TV use to other areas. Twenty-four megahertz was allocated for public-safety uses and 36 megahertz is expected to be auctioned for commercial purposes.
Since the 60-69 spectrum is considered prime real estate by the wireless industry, every sector has tried to convince the FCC to give it a piece of the pie.
Proposals have included everything from using all of the spectrum for third-generation wireless services to setting aside some spectrum for private wireless use. Above and beyond the comments that each entity has filed, FCC staff have attended 68 meetings with wireless industry representatives and other interested groups, said FCC Chairman William Kennard.
Various industry players continue to make their case to use the band. For example, Bell Atlantic Corp. is urging the FCC to allocate all of the spectrum to commercial mobile radio service.
“Rules that facilitate the use of the band for traditional broadcast services or private mobile services would undermine the maximum use of the band for mobile services … [for example] a 10-percent penetration rate at 144 kilobits will require 20 megahertz,” said Bell Atlantic.
In addition, Bell Atlantic stressed that there be no spectrum cap placed on the 60-69 spectrum. Today carriers are not allowed to control more than 45 megahertz of spectrum in urban areas and 55 megahertz in rural areas.
Bell Atlantic’s proposal would shut out requests from both the Industrial Telecommunications Association and the American Mobile Telecommunications Association.
ITA has requested six megahertz be set aside for the private wireless industry to be auctioned to band managers.
AMTA wants the spectrum allocated to “non-consumer wireless uses.”
Congress has mandated the FCC hold an auction for licenses to offer services using this spectrum and collect the money by Oct. 1. Due to this accelerated auction schedule, the time line for the 60-69 auction is six months shorter than the normal time line, Kennard said.
The time line is as follows:
Service rules and auction date should be released in December.
Auction rules should be released by Jan. 24.
Distribution of the bidder information package should be released on Feb. 22.
An auction seminar should be held on or before March 10.
The short-form filing deadline should be on or before March 24.
The FCC should announce who has filed short forms on or before March 31.
The deadline for upfront payments should be on or before April 10.
The FCC should announce qualified bidders on or before April 14.
A mock auction should take place on or before April 21.
The auction should start on or before April 25.
