[opendtv] CTIA: FCC chairman sets out four priorities to achieve mobile broadband

From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 09:10:33 -0500
Maybe the answer is for station groups to reinvent themselves as wireless 
broadband ISPs. That'll surprise the heck out of the incumbents.

Bert

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http://www.rethink-wireless.com/article.asp?article_id=1989&ckt=ON

CTIA: FCC chairman sets out four priorities to achieve mobile broadband
By CAROLINE GABRIEL

Published: 8 October, 2009

This week saw two big telecoms events on either side of the Atlantic, and both 
had high profile attendance from regulators, calling for more spectrum and 
promising a more open approach to stimulating mobile broadband round the world. 
This was the message from ITU secretary general Hamadoun Touré at the ITU 
Telecoms World event in Geneva (see our round-up tomorrow), and from new FCC 
chairman Julius Genachowski, who kicked off the CTIA Wireless IT and 
Entertainment conference in San Diego.

After welcoming Verizon Wireless' partnership with Google, the biggest pre-show 
news, he outlined a four-step plan for mobile broadband in the US. The first 
step is to free up the necessary spectrum, which he called "the oxygen of our 
mobile networks". While arguing that there is adequate availability for short 
term needs, he warned of a looming spectrum crisis as mobile data usage 
explodes.

Second, then, he wants to reallocate spectrum being used for other purposes and 
start off a process of identifying this, in consultation with all involved 
parties. "There are no easy pickings on the spectrum chart," he warned.

Third, he aims to create fair and workable rules for the open internet, for 
both wired and wireless networks. And fourth, he wants to create an environment 
that "empowers" the consumer, which in turn will boost competition and 
innovation, motivating companies and individuals to take risks and be creative.

In his first major public speech as chair, he admitted there were many 
unanswered questions.

"When we say that we haven't determined what we are going to do with handset 
exclusivity and we want your input, we mean it," he said. "The same applies to 
an open internet. We want you to be engaged."

Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, said 
during his keynote address that he applauded the FCC's efforts to open up more 
spectrum and to reduce the bureaucracy for building and expanding wireless 
networks. But he argued against applying the same net neutrality rules to 
wireless systems as wireline, especially if the rules change after operators 
have spent large sums on licenses. "The rules should not change after the 
auction," he said. "How can you expect companies to invest billions of dollars 
if you change the rules?"
 
 
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[opendtv] CTIA: FCC chairman sets out four priorities to achieve mobile broadband

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