WASHINGTON-In its last decision impacting the wireless industry for 1999, the Federal Communications Commission lifted the freeze and adopted licensing and service rules for the 3.2 megahertz of spectrum designated for multiple address systems.
“MAS frequencies continue to grow in importance to private industry. I am delighted the [FCC] has finally made a decision, although it certainly needs to be reviewed to see how well or poorly incumbent licensees fared,” said Allen Tilles, a communications attorney representing MAS incumbents.
The FCC announced the 5-0 decision on Dec. 30, but has yet to release the text of the decision. Even though industry representatives raised various issues not addressed in the news release, the FCC would not discuss specifics.
“The text of the FCC’s decision on this item hasn’t been released and is going through the normal editing process. Therefore at this time we cannot discuss details beyond what is in the press release. We expect the MAS item to be released soon,” said Meribeth McCarrick, spokeswoman for the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
MAS spectrum traditionally has been used by the power, petroleum and security industries to satisfy various alarm, control, interrogation and status reporting requirements.
The United Telecom Council, which represents utilities, was pleased the government made a decision on the MAS spectrum but said it was concerned whether traditional users of MAS spectrum would still be eligible to use the spectrum.
“I liked what I read in the news release [but there were] major terms left undefined,” said Jeff Sheldon, UTC vice president and general counsel. Sheldon said he suspected traditional users would remain eligible under the new rules.
Paging carriers also use MAS spectrum to control multiple paging transmitters in the same general area. The Personal Communications Industry Association said it was concerned with the amount of protection carriers will be given.
“We were pleased this proceeding has finally resolved itself. I am happy to see that the [FCC] in its news release has decided to grandfather existing MAS operations. What I can’t tell you is how happy I am because the [FCC] originally proposed 25 miles of protection while we proposed 70 miles protection,” said Rob Hoggarth, PCIA senior vice president of paging and messaging.
