WASHINGTON-Participants in leasing secondary spectrum will be able to help draft rules governing the procedure, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau last week explained how it expects the interim licensing process to work. “It is going to take us a while to get the elephant in the truck,” said James Brown of the wireless bureau, explaining why no firm date has been set as to when rules will be effective.
The wireless bureau hopes users of the interim process will make suggestions so the finished procedures can be implemented efficiently. The bureau aims to have final rules by summer, said Brown.
“We are very confident that during this interim process, we can get a better idea of what the industry wants to do and then develop a better process,” said WTB’s Denise Waters.
The FCC adopted rules last year that allow companies to lease commercial spectrum they are not using to other companies. The agency hopes that its secondary-markets rules will allow fallow spectrum to be used more efficiently by allowing both short and long-term leases of spectrum.
While the FCC will use its universal licensing system for most of the processing, FCC staff is set to fact check the leasing applications. Spectrum lessors must comply with the FCC’s radio-frequency interference and safety rules and satisfy license eligibility requirements, such as foreign ownership and character qualifications.
WTB Chief John Muleta, who opened the event, praised the policy. “This is a landmark. It was many years in the making, but as bureau chief, I am glad it happened under my watch,” said Muleta.
