Adelstein Reveals Wireless Spectrum Agenda

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>

[Note:  Here's a pointer to the full text of his address:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-233139A1.pdf>
DLH]

Adelstein Reveals Wireless Spectrum Agenda
By Sue Marek
April 10, 2003
<http://www.wirelessweek.com/index.asp?layout=document&doc_id=117040&vertica
lID=34&vertical=Business+and+Finance&industry=>

Louisville, Colo. -- In his first public address focusing on wireless
communications, newly appointed FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein
yesterday outlined his 'framework for innovation,' a plan he says
'combines industry with a light regulatory touch' to provide the
maximum support for wireless services.

Adelstein, who was the featured speaker at the Silicon Flatirons
Telecommunications Program at StorageTek Corp.'s headquarters just
outside Boulder, Colo., opened his speech by alluding to FCC Chairman
Michael Powell's visit to the same group last November, in which
Powell unveiled his plans to revamp the commission's 90-year-old
spectrum policy. 'Boulder seems to be where the commissioners show up
to make their big wireless speeches. So here I am.'

While Adelstein commended Chairman Powell and the Spectrum Policy
Task Force for undertaking what he calls a 'Herculean task' of
revamping the existing spectrum policy, he also said he doesn't agree
with every aspect of the plan. And while he declined to point out
specific areas of dissent, he did provide some insight into what he
believes should be the guiding principals of spectrum policy. Just as
a greenhouse cultivates growth, Adelstein says, the commission should
foster innovation.

Taking a cue from the FCC's successes with handling new technologies
such as direct broadcast satellite, Wi-Fi and PCS, Adelstein says the
FCC should support technologies that operate in both licensed and
unlicensed spectrum and 'not assume that only unlicensed technologies
are innovative.'

He also suggested that however the FCC make spectrum available, it
should not give up permanent property rights. The commission should
always retain authority and flexibility to regulate the rights of
both licenses and users, Adelstein said.

Likewise, he said that while the FCC needs to be mindful of harmful
interference, the commission should be careful to not let a 'lot of
frivolous claims' get in the way of its spectrum policy.

Adelstein promoted the idea of providing incentives to those that use
their spectrum efficiently and the imposing of a 'spectrum user fee'
on those that do not. He also suggested the FCC encourage a more
robust and healthy secondary market by accommodating new technologies.

On the buildout front, he suggested the FCC rethink its existing
rules for exclusive services, saying that 'a 10-year build-out
deadline is a lifetime' because it undercuts the ability of others to
get unused spectrum.

And while Adelstein admits that spectrum auctions may not be the
perfect, he says he doesn't believe they will go away anytime soon
and in the meantime he suggests the FCC take a closer look at some of
its auction rules, specifically those used to determine bidding
credits.

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