WASHINGTON—Federal regulators today agreed to an outside compromise plan giving wireless broadband carriers improved access to educational spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band.
The Federal Communications Commission said it would allow educational broadband licensees to enter into excess-capacity leases for a maximum of 30 years, but said leases with terms of 15 years or longer must include a right to review the educational-use requirements of the leases every five years beginning at year 15.
The FCC decision is based on a recent agreement between the Wireless Communications Association International and the Catholic Television Network.
At its meeting today, the FCC also decided to scale down the geographic size of new 2.5 GHz broadband wireless licenses from major economic areas to basic trading areas.
“Although WCA is disappointed that the commission has not seen fit to adopt in full the proposals of this unprecedented joint industry effort, today’s action will provide the certainty that operators and manufacturers need to complete the transition to the new 2.5 GHz band channelization plan adopted in 2004 and to deploy wireless broadband facilities that help achieve the president’s goal of universal affordable access to broadband for all Americans,” WCA said.
The FCC revamped the 2.5 GHz band in 2004 to help facilitate wireless broadband deployment in the United States. The process of making that happen is ongoing, owing to numerous technical, relocation and other regulatory changes.
“Encouraging education and promoting the deployment of commercial broadband services are both important goals of the commission, and we believe the leasing provisions the commission adopts today will support them both,” said FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate in a joint statement.
Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp. also control major spectrum holdings in the 2.5 GHz band.
