FCC affirms hybrid licensing system for 3650-3700 MHz WiMAX

The Federal Communications Commission largely affirmed a 2005 decision creating a hybrid licensing system in the 3650-3700 MHz band to foster WiMAX deployment in the Untied States.
“We applaud the FCC for the time and exhaustive diligence they spent considering all the issues surrounding the 3650-3700 MHz band,” said Jeff Thompson, president and CEO of WiMAX firm Towerstream Corp. Thompson said the ruling solidifies the legitimacy of a band used around the world for WiMAX .
Towerstream, founded in 2000, has deployed pre-WiMAX networks in markets such as New York City; Los Angeles; Chicago; San Francisco; Seattle; Miami; the greater Boston area; and Providence and Newport, R.I., and continues to expand coverage throughout the country.
“This unique licensing scheme provides Towerstream additional tools to deploy affordable alternative broadband services across the U.S. In addition, we are pleased the FCC is protecting satellite owners who also need to utilize this spectrum,” Thompson said.
Service providers will register base stations in an FCC database, but the spectrum is available on a non-exclusive basis.
“Our licensing regime for the 3650 MHz band will serve as a wireless highway between small towns and the big city-it will facilitate the delivery of broadband to all corners of the country by serving a different user group, one that often is driven by more localized, community-based needs,” stated FCC member Jonathan Adelstein.
Adelstein said only time will tell if the hybrid licensing approach will result in increased use of this spectrum band. “I think that given the success of unlicensed wireless networks, we are on the right track, and our creative spectrum management approach is well justified,” he said.