Kerry lays out 700 MHz position

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) said the Federal Communications Commission should write 700 MHz rules that foster innovative wireless broadband services and improved first-responder communications.
Kerry, decrying the declining stature of United States in broadband penetration compared with other countries, said the upcoming 700 MHz auction offers the opportunity to move the country closer to President Bush’s goal of universal, affordable broadband access by the end of 2007.
“Dramatically expanding wireless broadband may not be the silver bullet that solves all of our broadband challenges-but it will certainly be a step in the right direction,” stated Kerry in a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. “Ultimately, the commission should establish auction and service rules that maximize the likelihood of innovation and competitive entry in the broadband wireless market.”
Kerry did not mention Frontline Wireless L.L.C. by name, but his press release embraces many of the themes in the startup’s campaign to create national wireless license whose operator would serve the broadband needs of consumers and public-safety agencies. The FCC is expected to issue auction rules in the next month or so, with an eye toward starting the auction in December.
Kerry, a Senate Commerce Committee member, also advocated strong buildout requirements as proposed by the FCC. “This spectrum should not sit dormant in the hands of winning bidders. We cannot allow this spectrum to be hoarded by large companies who don’t intend to use it, which stifles innovation and the growth of competitive networks. It is imperative that care is taken to avoid warehousing of this spectrum,” the Massachusetts lawmaker said.
The mobile-phone industry and others oppose a geographic-based construction mandate. National cellphone trade group CTIA and a large number parties warned that the agency’s plan could backfire.
“We understand the commission’s desire to make sure that the spectrum is utilized, but are deeply concerned about the potential negative impact of a geographic buildout requirement,” said Christopher Guttman-McCabe, vice president for regulatory affairs at CTIA. “The 55 small, medium and large companies, representing a diverse range of service providers and potential service providers, that have signed this letter agree with CTIA that a geographic requirement could actually have a negative impact on the delivery of advanced services to consumers, forcing licensees to choose last generation technology or to return spectrum in areas where they would have provided service based on commission geographic deadlines. We hope the commission will consider alternative buildout requirements.”
The Senate Commerce Committee has scheduled a hearing Thursday on 700 MHz issues.
Witnesses include Wanda McCarley, president of Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International and operations manager for Texas’ Tarrant County 9-1-1 District; James Barksdale, a partner in Frontline Wireless; Philip Weiser, professor of law and telecommunications and executive director of the Silicon Flatirons Program at the University of Colorado’s School of Law; Paul Cosgrave, commissioner of New York City’s Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications; Dick Lynch, executive VP and CTO of Verizon Wireless; Michael Small, CEO of Centennial Communications Corp., and Amol Sarva, CEO of Txtbl.