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| BRS/MDS 2.5 GHz WCA Leadership |
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WCA News
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2008 NEWS |
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| SEPTEMBER 25 , 2008 |
WCA Submits Comments to FCC on EBS White Space Licensing
WCA submitted comments to the FCC, urging the Commission to move promptly towards licensing the EBS white spaces. WCA said it intends to continue working with the EBS community leaders towards a consensus. Ultimately, however, WCA believes that educators, students and the general public will benefit most from a solution that promptly licenses the EBS white spaces in a manner that permits EBS licensees to continue meeting their educational objectives through mutually-beneficial commercial relationships with wireless broadband operators across the country. |
| SEPTEMBER 18 , 2008 |
FCC Announces Effective Date of BRS/EBS Data Reporting Requirement
In the BRS/EBS Fourth Memorandum Opinion and Order that was released on March 20, 2008, the FCC adopted WCA’s proposal requiring licensees to provide the geographic coordinates, the height above ground level of the center of radiation for each transmit and receive antenna, and the date transmissions commenced for each of the base stations in its geographic service area (GSA) within 30 days of receipt of a request from a co-channel, neighboring BRS/EBS licensee. That requirement, however, was subject to OMB approval. That approval has now occurred, and the requirement became effective on Sept. 8, 2008. |
| SEPTEMBER 12 , 2008 |
WCA Replies to Oppositions in BRS/EBS Rule Rewrite Proceeding
WCA filed a reply in connection with its petition for reconsideration of the FCC’s Fourth Memorandum and Order in the BRS/EBS rule rewrite proceeding. It said there has been no opposition to WCA’s call for confirmation that BRS channel 1 and 2 licensees can simultaneously use their post-transition 2.5 GH band spectrum and their current 2.1 GHz band spectrum to facilitate migration of subscribers from the latter to the former. It also urged FCC to reconsider its statements that the rules applicable to EBS leases executed prior to Jan. 10, 2005 limited such leases to a term of 15 years from the date of execution. C&W Enterprises and Speednet agreed with WCA’s assessment and confirmed WCA’s demonstration that serious damage could flow from the FCC’s action.
Florida School Leases Spectrum to Clearwire
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) officials have FCC approval to lease 24 of 26 unused broadband channels in its EBS spectrum to Clearwire for up to $173 million for the next 10 years, reported FierceWireless. It continued: FAU has held the spectrum licenses since the 1980s. Originally the channels were used for distance learning. The lease plan will include an upfront payment of at least $8.6 million plus $3.5 million a year for the next five years. Clearwire needs the spectrum as part of its pending nationwide launch of mobile WiMAX. Details. |
| AUGUST 21 , 2008 |
DigitalBridge To Discuss Marketing Strategies At BRS Operators Meeting
WCA Board member DigitalBridge Communications will discuss its marketing strategies and share tips for success during the next monthly conference call of the WCA’s BRS Operators Committee on Sept. 3. Founded in late 2005, DigitalBridge provides broadband wireless to small and medium-sized communities nationwide through the new WiMAX technology standard. Also on the call, WCA Counsel Paul Sinderbrand will provide a regulatory update on the issues of interest to BRS operators. |
| AUGUST 14 , 2008 |
FCC Grants WCA Extension Request In EBS Lease Term Proceeding
The FCC granted WCA's motion extending the deadline to file replies in the EBS lease term proceeding from Aug. 13 to Sept. 5. The FCC in March released an order to facilitate the provision of fixed and mobile broadband access, educational and other advanced services in the 2150-2162 and 2500-2690 MHz bands. The WCA filed a petition for reconsideration seeking in part a reconsideration of the Commission's decision to limit leases entered into before Jan. 10, 2005 to 15 years from the date of execution. WCA also asked the agency to extend the deadline for filing replies to the oppositions to enable it to discuss competing proposals and their potential impacts on the EBS and BRS communities with the parties to this proceeding. |
| JULY 17, 2008 |
Comment Deadlines Set For WCA Petition For Reconsideration Of BRS/EBS Rules
A notice was published in the Federal Register on July 14 of the WCA petition for reconsideration of the most recent order in the BRS/EBS rule rewrite proceeding. The WCA petition addresses two issues: (1) the maximum term of EBS leases entered into prior to Jan. 10, 2005; and (2) the ability of BRS 1 and 2 licensees to simultaneously use their 2.1 GHz spectrum and their post-transition 2.5 GHz spectrum. Comments on the WCA petition are due July 29, and WCA's reply will be due ten days thereafter, with an additional three days provided if WCA is served by mail. |
| JULY 10, 2008 |
BRS Operators Call July 16 To Look At WiMAX Deployment In Rural Regions
WCA member Sioux Valley Wireless, which recently deployed the first WiMAX network in South Dakota, will share its experience and lessons learned during the next monthly conference call of the WCA's BRS Operators Committee on July 16. Joel Brick, the company's wireless technical director and Committee's chairman, will discuss the advantages of using WiMAX technology in rural regions and share his tips for success with the rest of the group. Also on the call, WCA Counsel Paul Sinderbrand will provide a regulatory update on the issues of interest to BRS operators. |
| JULY 3, 2008 |
FCC Extends EBS Comment Period Until Sept. 22
The FCC extended the comment and reply deadlines in the Educational Broadband Service (EBS) White Space licensing rulemaking proceeding to Sept. 22 and Oct. 22, respectively. The delay from a July 7 deadline was at the request of the National EBS Association (NEBSA, formerly the National ITFS Association) and the Catholic Television Network (CTN). NEBSA has sought to help the EBS community to come to a consensus on how the FCC should award licenses to fill in the remaining vacant EBS channels and areas, and then try to get agreement from the commercial community and other possible stakeholders. |
| JUNE 26, 2008 |
FCC Extends Filing Deadlines On EBS White Space Licensing FNPRM
The FCC today granted the request by NEBSA and CTN, which WCA endorsed, for a 75 day extension of the deadlines for comments and reply comments in response to the EBS white space Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Comments are now due on Sept. 22, replies Oct 22. |
| JUNE 12, 2008 |
WCA Seeks Stay, Reconsideration Of EBS Rules
WCA this week submitted a petition for reconsideration and a request for stay in the FCC’s BRS/EBS rule rewrite proceeding. It asked the Commission to stay, pending reconsideration and any possible appeal, the effect of the agency’s erroneous statements in two paragraphs of the order that Educational Broadband Service (EBS) spectrum leases executed prior to Jan. 10, 2005 are limited to a term of 15 years from the date of execution. WCA asked FCC to reconsider the statement. “The Commission never required that the maximum permissible term of EBS spectrum leasing arrangements be measured from the date of execution of the agreement,” it said. “To the contrary, it routinely approved spectrum lease agreements under which the maximum lease term was measured from the occurrence of an event following execution.” WCA also said the Commission should confirm that until their operations are fully migrated to the 2.5 GHz band, BRS Channel 1 and 2 licensees may simultaneously use their current 2.1 GHz band spectrum and their designated 2.5 GHz band spectrum in BTAs that have transitioned to the new 2.5 GHz band plan. |
| MARCH 20 , 2008 |
FCC Advances Rules For BRS / EBS In 2496-2690 MHz Band
The FCC issued an order, further rulemaking notice and a declaratory ruling governing the Broadband Radio Service (BRS) and Educational Broadband Service (EBS) spectrum in the 2496-2690 MHz band. The item sets forth auction rules for unassigned BRS spectrum, seeks comment on ways to license EBS spectrum in the future, and establishes a BRS service area for the Gulf of Mexico. The item also modifies certain technical rules and clarifies the “splitting-the-football” process for dividing overlapping protected service areas with expired licenses. While the FCC auctioned the “white spaces” within the BRS spectrum in 1996, there are currently over 70 BRS Basic Trading Areas (BTAs) that are unassigned and available for auction. The FCC also determined that it will auction this spectrum in the future using the standard auction rules and procedures in Part 1 of the FCC’s rules. In addition, entities with attributed average gross revenues not exceeding $40 million for the preceding three years will qualify as “small businesses” and will be eligible for 15% bidding credits. Entities with revenues not exceeding $15 million for the preceding three years will qualify as “very small businesses” and will be eligible for 25% bidding credits. Finally, 35% bidding credits will be available for “entrepreneurs” whose attributed average gross revenues for the same period do not exceed $3 million. The FCC sought further comment on how to license the available and unassigned “white spaces” in the EBS spectrum band. Details. WCA issued a press statement on the FCC decision. “Although not without its flaws, yesterday’s FCC decision goes a long way towards providing licensees in the 2.5 GHz band a regulatory environment that will promote the deployment of high-speed, mobile wireless broadband access across America,” commented WCA President Andrew Kreig. “The Commission is to be applauded for responding to the various industry concerns that are addressed in this decision.”
FCC Reinstates Expired BRS Licenses
The FCC issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order in which it reversed prior decisions by the Broadband Division and granted a request by Oklahoma Western Telephone Company (OWTC) for renewal of four BRS stations in the Clayton, OK area, notwithstanding that the renewal applications were filed 20 months after the licenses had expired. The Commission concluded that requiring OWTC to terminate service would be “inequitable and unduly burdensome” to OWTC’s 127 customers, who “have no viable alternative” service. |
| FEBRUARY 28, 2008 |
FCC Circulates Rules Governing BRS 1/2 Relocation
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has circulated orders concerning the relocation of broadband radio service (BRS) licensees and spectrum sharing between non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) and geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) fixed satellite service (FSS) operations and terrestrial services operating in several frequency bands, according to TR Daily, which further reported: In the first item, a memorandum opinion and order addresses a WCA petition for reconsideration asking the FCC to revise rules governing the relocation of BRS licensees from the 2150-2162 MHz band to free up the spectrum for new advanced wireless services (AWS) providers. In its petition, WCA said that unless the Commission changed the regulations, which were adopted in April 2006, at least some - and maybe all - of the 30 to 50 BRS licensees in the spectrum “may be doomed.” |
| FEBRUARY 21, 2008 |
Clearwire Makes Progress On 2.5 GHz Spectrum Clearing
Clearwire has finished clearing educational institutions off 2.5 GHz spectrum in some major markets, freeing the spectrum for wireless broadband, reported Communications Daily. The basic trading areas include Nashville, Honolulu, Duluth, MN, and Gainesville, FL. |
| FEBRUARY 8, 2008 |
Pending BRS/EBS Matters Scheduled For FCC Action
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has indicated he wants his fellow Commissioners to consider a large, multi-faceted item addressing a number of pending issues related to the 2.5 GHz band at the agency’s Feb. 26 meeting, TR Daily reported quoting an agency source. The spectrum is used by broadband radio service (BRS) and educational broadband service (EBS) operators. Among the highlights, the draft order includes provisions for re-auctioning BRS BTA authorizations forfeited for failure to make installment payments and is accompanied by a further notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comment on the auctioning of EBS white space. |
| JANUARY 31, 2008 |
Weekly Reports On 2.5 GHz Band Transition Status Available On WCA Website
WCA reminds its members that it provides weekly BTA-by-BTA reports on the transition to the new 2.5 GHz bandplan on the members-only page of the BRS Operators Committee website. For more information, or to request a password, WCA members should contact Susan Polyakova. |
| JANUARY 17, 2008 |
WCA’s BRS Best Practices Committee Schedules Next Meeting
The WCA’s BRS/EBS Best Practices Committee has scheduled its next meeting for Thursday, Feb. 7 at 12 p.m. (Eastern Time). The Committee last week voted unanimously to adopt the first part of a two-part proposal on 5 and 10 MHz WiMAX standard frequencies for the U.S band plan. The proposal is available on the BRS/EBS Best Practices Committee website. For more information, please contact Committee Co-Chairmen George Harter of Clearwire or Harry Perlow of Sprint Nextel. |
| JANUARY 10, 2008 |
WCA’s BRS Best Practices Committee Approves WiMAX Standard Proposal
The WCA’s BRS/EBS Best Practices Committee voted unanimously today to adopt the first part of a two-part proposal on 5 and 10 MHz WiMAX standard frequencies for the U.S band plan. The adopted proposal is now a WCA industry standard and will be submitted as a contribution to the WiMAX Forum. The goal of the WCA BRS/EBS Best Practices Group is to create standards to be included in an Industry-wide Cooperation and Coordination Agreement, addressing the challenges of a flexible use band and defining “Best Practices” to be used to minimize and mitigate interference, as well as to standardize measurement techniques. For more information, please contact Committee Co-Chairmen George Harter of Clearwire or Harry Perlow of Sprint Nextel.
WCA’s BRS/EBS Working Group Pushes For Greater Protection Of BRS Channel 1 Operations
The WCA’s BRS/EBS Working Group has been working to assure that BRS channel 1 under the new bandplan (2496-2502 MHz) is as useable as possible. WCA last week filed reply comments in connection with the FCC NPRM that solicits comments on proposals by Globalstar to expand its authority to offer terrestrial wireless broadband services. In a victory for BRS channel 1 licensees, Globalstar has retreated from its efforts to secure access to 2495-2500 MHz and has agreed to be bound by rules that are protective of BRS channel 1 operations. But WCA continued to press for even greater protection, including retention of the existing ban on terrestrial operations above 2493 MHz. The reply comments filed by others are either in line with WCA (including Sprint Nextel, CTIA and Iridium), or merely repeat the same rhetoric presented previously (Globalstar and Open Range). |
| JANUARY 3, 2008 |
BRS Operators Committee To Meet Jan. 9
Marketing strategies and competition will be the focus of the next monthly conference call of the WCA’s BRS Operators Committee scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 4 p.m. (ET). The call will feature Joel Dunifon of the WCA Board member W.A.T.C.H. TV and will also address other issues of importance to BRS operators. For more information or to join the Committee, please contact liaison Susan Polyakova.
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2007 NEWS |
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| DECEMBER 20, 2007 |
WCA Files Comments In The 2155-2175 MHz Proceeding
WCA has submitted comments with the FCC in response to the NPRM on bandplan, auction and service rules for the 2155-2175 MHz band. WCA urged the Commission to protect the broadband radio service (BRS) operators that currently use BRS channels 1 (2150-2156 MHz) and 2 (2156-2162 MHz) and to ensure that they are made whole as they are relocated from the 2155-2175 MHz band for the benefit of Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) newcomers to that spectrum. WCA called for licensing the band via competitive bidding as a single unpaired 20 MHz block on an Economic Area basis. It supported the “uplink/downlink” approach for the flexibility it would give service providers, and said a 2155-2175 MHz licensee should be permitted to use any portion of the band for mobile transmissions, base station transmissions, or both. WCA opposed conditioning 2155-2175 MHz licenses on compliance with “free service” obligations or other requirements. “No such conditions have been imposed on AWS licensees before, and with good reason: as highlighted throughout the NPRM, the ‘highest and best use’ of spectrum is realized by reliance on market forces and regulation grounded in the principles of service and technological neutrality,” it said. WCA also said that to protect BRS channel 1 and 2 incumbents in the band, the Commission must modify the BRS relocation rules it has adopted in accordance with the WCA petition for reconsideration that is currently pending before the Commission
WCA Delegation Meets With NTIA On Air Radar Interference Issues
WCA led a member delegation that met productively with NTIA staff experts at the U.S. Department of Commerce today. The topic was how best to mitigate interference and the need for expensive equipment filters for WiMAX deployments in the 2.5 GHz band in the vicinity of airport and other federal radar installations across the U.S. without compromising federal safety and other security. |
| SEPTEMBER 20, 2007 |
WCA Files Comments On FCC's Proposal For BRS Regulatory Fees
WCA submitted comments on Monday in response to the FCC's proposal for the assessment and collection of regulatory fees from Broadband Radio Service (BRS) licensees and the impact they could have on rural operators. WCA said it agreed with the agency's tentative conclusion to defer implementation of a new fee system until after the 2.5 GHz band transition is completed. WCA asked the Commission to clarify if self-transitions must be done by Oct. 20, 2010, the deadline for proponent-driven transitions, or April 19, 2011. WCA recommended the 2010 deadline and asked hat new fees be imposed for fiscal year 2011 or 2012. WCA also voiced concerns that the FCC's plan to assess BRS regulatory fees could harm rural providers because the current rule "will lead to arbitrary results because it ignores that BRS Geographic Service Areas (GSA) have very different geographic sizes, and cover very different population sizes, without regard to the population ranking of the BTA in which the GSA center point is located. Inequities can arise in several ways." Instead of basing fees on a per-megahertz basis, the Commission should base them on a MHz/pop basis, which is "based on the exact population within a BRS licensee's service area." |
| SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 |
WCA Seeks FCC Reauction For 77 Forfeited BRS Licenses In U.S.
WCA Wednesday asked the FCC for a prompt reauction of 77 Broadband Radio Service (BRS) licenses that have been forfeited since the agency auctioned them in 1996. The licenses are each for a basic trading area (BTA) in the 2.5-2.7 GHz band, which is regarded as the primary band for WiMAX services in the U.S. and many other parts of the world. "Auctioning of this idle BRS spectrum will help promote the deployment of advanced wireless broadband service to the public, particularly in the rural and underserved areas where many of these licenses are concentrated," WCA said in a filing. WCA said that waiting until as late as 2011 would hurt those areas that do not have BRS BTA licensees. Only 28 of the 77 BTAs that lack such a license have seen transition initiation plans filed, compared to 298 of 416 BTAs where such a licensee exists. In other words, WCA argued that initiation is twice as likely in a BTA that has a BRS BTA licensee than in one without one.
BRS Operators Exchange Views & News
WCA's BRS Operators Committee held a productive conference call Wednesday under the leadership of Chairman Joel Brick of Sioux Valley Wireless of South Dakota, with the help of an agenda of guest speakers recruited by Deputy Chair Leigh Ann Spellman of Gryphon Wireless in Nebraska. Speakers included those from BeamSpeed in Arizona and Evertek in Iowa and WCA Counsel describing strategic, operational and regulatory issues. Meanwhile, WCA's Rural Broadband Committee postponed its scheduled conference call on Sept. 20 until a date to be determined in early October. Chairman Kelley Dunne, CEO of Virginia-based DigitalBridge Communications, is planning an ambitious agenda.
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NIA To Hold Annual Conference For Educators From Feb. 19-21 In Florida
The National ITFS Association (NIA) will hold its annual conference NIA 2007 from Feb. 19-21 at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront Hotel in St. Petersburg, FL. Following pre-conference activities, NIA Chairman Dr. Patrick Gossman, the interim CIO of Wayne State University, will discuss industry issues with me at a 7:30 a.m. breakfast on Feb. 20. Commercial operators in the U.S. for many years have leased excess spectrum capacity from educators who hold spectrum in the 2.5-2.7 GHz band. The educators' spectrum is known as the Educational Broadband Service (EBS), and was previously known as the Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) before the band was reconfigured to enable broadband services after NIA and WCA submitted a consensus plan to the FCC in 2002. For details on the conference, visit: www.ITFS.org. |
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