WASHINGTON-Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association President Thomas Wheeler today warned Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell that allowing mobile satellite service operators to operate land-band transmitters could cause interference to mobile phone handsets in the personal communications services band.
“We cannot rob Peter in order to pay Paul,” said Wheeler in a letter to Powell. “Millions of PCS customers could be affected unless the FCC takes action to ensure there is no interference.”
PCS operates just below the 2 GHz band, close to some of the satellite frequency bands on which the FCC is expected shortly to approve operation of ancillary terrestrial component by Craig McCaw’s ICO Global Communications and other MSS licensees.
Wireless carriers claim approval of ATC would represent a huge windfall for financially ailing mobile satellite companies, which received spectrum for free and could compete against established mobile-phone firms in a market that’s already highly competitive and drowning in debt. ICO and others reply ATC will help bring broadband wireless service to rural areas and improve the health of the satellite industry generally.
FCC authorization of ATC is expected to be subject to certain buildout and technical requirements.
“In the spectrum context,” the Wheeler letter concludes, “the commission’s highest priority should be to ensure that any regulatory decision it makes does not seriously degrade service to existing customers who rely on their mobile service. Placing ATC too close to PCS, without adequate safeguards to protect against harmful interference, would have exactly that effect.”
