WASHINGTON-The wireless industry is urging FCC Chairman Kevin Martin to reject a key spectrum policy of his predecessor-the interference temperature-and instead ensure existing wireless carriers they will not have to share spectrum.
The interference-temperature concept is a way to facilitate spectrum sharing that would set a cap on the amount of interference a user of a specific band could expect. The concept of setting a cap to determine what is harmful interference has always been controversial, especially by those who opposed ultra-wideband technologies, which employed a type of interference temperature.
Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and CTIA, both UWB opponents, recently reacted to Martin’s draft strategic plan for the FCC’s next five years, which indicates that sharing may be a more efficient way to use spectrum resources.
Former FCC Chairman Michael Powell touted interference temperature as a key method for spectrum sharing. Under his leadership in 2003, the commission proposed using the 6 GHz and 12 GHz bands as test beds for the interference-temperature concept.
It is unclear, however, whether Martin embraces the interference-temperature concept.
“Methods for avoiding and mitigating harmful interference and increasing opportunities for spectrum sharing and re-use require further study,” according to the draft strategic plan.
In May, two months after his boss became chairman, Sam Feder, then wireless legal adviser to Martin and now FCC general counsel, said his boss was not sold on interference temperature.
“The interference-temperature concept is very interesting, but we have some concerns. As long as we have some of these things out there, it creates some uncertainty,” said Feder.
Both CTIA and Cingular want to avoid such uncertainties by steering the FCC away from spectrum sharing and toward more exclusive use of spectrum.
