WASHINGTON—The wireless broadband industry lashed out at XM Radio Inc. over the satellite radio operator’s admission that 221 land-based repeaters were operating above authorized power levels and 19 repeaters were transmitting outside the scope of XM’s Federal Communications Commission permit.
The terrestrial components of satellite radio services operate on frequencies adjacent to those licensed to wireless broadband licensees in the 2.3 GHz band, but the FCC has failed to date to craft permanent rules governing the land-based transmissions of satellite radio operators. Instead, the agency issues “special temporary authority,” or STA, authorizations to digital satellite radio service providers. The situation worries wireless broadband companies that intend to invest millions of dollars in coming years on WiMAX systems in the 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz bands.
“The revelation by XM certainly supports a full enforcement investigation before the FCC grants any additional STAs,” said Paul Sinderbrand, outside counsel to the Wireless Communications Association International.
“We are working with the FCC to address this matter expeditiously,” said Chance Patterson, vice president for corporate affairs at XM.
XM’s Oct. 2 filing with the FCC—in which it disclosed the situation—said the company was not aware of any wireless broadband facilities in any of the cities at issue in the matter.
“We are reviewing the filing to determine what is the proper course of action to take,” said Clyde Ensslin, an FCC spokesman.
