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Jun 06
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Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Guard Band Systems

Posted by | Wireless | No Comments

This post is a parody of “Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems” written by Galileo Galilei in 1632, which attempted to prove that the earth revolves around the sun (the Copernican system). Although the Copernican system was ultimately proven to be scientifically correct, Galileo was convicted of heresy and his book was placed on the Index of Forbidden Books for more than two hundred years.

Galileo’s book was written as a dialogue between three characters, Salviati, who supported Galileo’s view, Simplicio, who believed the universe revolves around the earth (the Ptolemaic system), and Sagredo, an open-minded person with no established position. In this parody, Salviati supports the use of actual or de facto guard bands between broadcast and mobile services, Simplicio supports the FCC’s competing guard band proposals in the 600 MHz and 700 MHz bands, and Sagredo remains open-minded.

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SALVIATI. We resolved to meet today and discuss the differences in the FCC’s approach to the potential for harmful interference between broadcast and mobile services in the 600 MHz band on the one hand and the lower 700 MHz band on the other. Read More

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May 15
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DOJ Spectrum Plan Is Not Supported by Economic Theory or FCC Findings

Posted by | Public Safety, Wireless | One Comment

Frontline relied on the DOJ foreclosure theory to predict that the lack of eligibility restrictions in the 700 MHz auction would “inevitably” increase prices, stifle innovation, and reduce the diversity of service offerings as Verizon and AT&T warehoused the spectrum. In reality, the exact opposite occurred.

The DOJ recently recommended that the FCC rig the upcoming incentive auction to ensure Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile are winners and Verizon and AT&T are losers. I previously noted that the DOJ spectrum plan (1) inconsistent with its own findings in recent merger proceedings and the intent of Congress, (2) inherently discriminatory, and (3) irrational as applied. Additional analysis indicates that it isn’t supported by economic theory or FCC factual findings either. Read More

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Mar 13
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Development of the 700 MHz Band Plan in the United States

Posted by | International, Wireless | No Comments

At yesterday’s oversight hearing of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US Senate, Commissioner McDowell said the rules governing the “C Block” in the upper 700 MHz band were responsible for its lack of interoperability. This wasn’t the first time someone has misunderstood what drove the development of the 700 MHz band plan in the US and the 3GPP process that developed LTE standards for the band, and I don’t expect it will be the last.

The 700 MHz band plan is complex and riddled with exceptions based on its unique history. I presented a keynote describing that history and its impact on the band to an international audience at 4G World last year. The keynote explained why the US couldn’t simply adopt the technically more efficient and interoperable “APT” band plan for 700 MHz that is preferred in Asia and was recently adopted by Mexico. The presentation I gave at 4G World is available here: 4G World 700 MHz Keynote.

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Feb 11
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FCC Incentive Auction: Will the FCC Pick a Winner Among Mobile Technologies?

Posted by | Wireless | 2 Comments

Congress recently mandated that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) make additional spectrum available through a novel incentive auction designed to transition television broadcast spectrum to mobile use. The FCC’s task is to adequately compensate television broadcasters for relinquishing their spectrum while ensuring such spectrum is rapidly transitioned to mobile uses that benefit consumers nationwide.

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Oct 01
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FCC Chairman Genachowski Praises Predecessors’ Smart Policies, but Will He Heed Them?

Posted by | Broadband Internet, Wireless | No Comments

If the FCC had adopted the eligibility restrictions proposed by PISC in 2007, the United States would not have achieved the LTE leadership touted by current FCC Chairman Genachowski.

I was pleased to see FCC Chairman Genachowski praise the market-based policies of his predecessors in his remarks at Vox last week. He noted that the United States is currently leading the world in next generation mobile wireless services with 69 percent of the world’s LTE subscribers, which he attributes to “smart government policies.” He didn’t mention, however, that the “smart government policies” that led to America’s renewed mobile leadership were based on market principles adopted by the previous FCC.

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Jul 03
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SCOTUS Healthcare Decision Indicates FCC Interoperability Mandate Unconstitutional

Posted by | Wireless | No Comments

The Communications Liberty and Innovation Project (CLIP) recently filed comments at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opposing an interoperability mandate in the 700 MHz band. CLIP argued that the proposed interoperability mandate would be manifestly unjust. The Supreme Court’s holding in the healthcare opinion issued last week indicates that the mandate could be more than merely unjust: it might be unconstitutional.

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Jun 05
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Comments filed with the FCC regarding 700 MHz Interoperability

Posted by | Wireless | 2 Comments

The Communications Liberty and Innovation Project submitted these comments in response to the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released on March 21, 2012, in the 700 MHz interoperability proceeding. A PDF version of these comments can be  http://restorenature.org/Y downloaded here. Read More

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Jun 01
0

CLIP Opposes FCC Technology Mandate in 700 MHz Band

Posted by | Wireless | No Comments

Later today the Communications Liberty and Innovation Project (CLIP) will be filing comments at the FCC opposing a technology mandate in the 700 MHz band after deployment has begun and without industry consensus. Imposing a technology mandate in the 700 MHz band after auctioning the spectrum pursuant to flexible rules would be another step backwards at the FCC. Since the early 1990s, the FCC had been making progress toward a more market-based approach to communications policy. Over the last two years, however, it has looked more like a 1930s-style central planning agency than a 21st century expert. A surprise technology mandate in the 700 MHz band would bring it another step closer to its central planning past.

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