WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must eliminate the spectrum cap as an interim measure while government and industry representatives attempt to find harmonized spectrum for third-generation (3G) wireless services, said Thomas E. Wheeler, president of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA).
Wheeler’s plea comes in the wake of the 11 September attacks on the United States, which politically took the 1700 MHz (1755-1850 MHz) band off the table and the FCC’s action to remove the 2500 MHz band from 3G consideration.
Elimination of the spectrum cap would only be an interim measure, said Wheeler, noting the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) said the industry needs 200 megahertz of new spectrum for advanced-wireless services.
Speaking at a press policy briefing this week, Wheeler also reiterated his belief that the FCC and the Department of Justice can protect competition without the bright line of the spectrum cap. The cap limits the amount of spectrum a carrier can control to 45 megahertz in urban areas and 55 megahertz in rural areas.
FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell has publicly expressed support for eliminating the cap, and the wireless industry sincerely hoped that as soon as there was a Republican majority on the commission that it would be eliminated. That majority was achieved in June, but to date, no action on the spectrum-cap issue has occurred.
The FCC is expected to decide whether to eliminate the cap by the end of the year, said an FCC spokeswoman.
