http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/119794
Spectrum Crisis is 'Science Fiction,' NAB's Study Concludes
04.26.2011.
WASHINGTON: The looming spectrum crisis is manufactured, according to a former Federal
Communications Commission official. In a study commissioned by the National Association
of Broadcasters, Uzoma Onyeije says the "spectrum crisis is factually
revisionist."
"Wireless carriers do not suffer from a nationwide 'spectrum crisis;' they face a
capacity crunch in a limited number of locations. And there are a variety of tools at
carriers' disposal for addressing capacity concerns. However, policymakers have not
adequately explored these tools," Onyeije writes.
He notes AT&T and Verizon's migration to fourth-generation LTE, said to be
twice as spectrally efficient as current third-generation wireless networks.
"Assuming spectral efficiency advances stay on their current trajectory, there will
be significant--and to-date insufficiently examined--capacity gains for mobile
carriers," Onyeije notes.
He also points out that voice calls could be more efficiently handled as
packet-based Internet Protocol rather than circuit-switched traffic. Offloading
mobile Internet traffic to Wi-Fi fixed locations is also expected to rise, and
therefore increase capacity. Onyeije quotes American Tower Corp. chief James
Taiclet as saying the company's 38,000 tower sites are at about 50 percent
capacity.
"AT&T and other wireless operators could double the amount of capacity they supply
with current spectrum by investing more in new wireless equipment on existing cell
towers," Taiclet is quoted as saying.
Onyeije, former broadband legal advisor at the FCC Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, debunked the existence of the spectrum crisis now being used to justify
the reallocation of 40 percent of the broadcast spectrum for broadband.
"In the final analysis, the impending spectrum crisis is not real," he said.
"In fact, it includes all the elements of a bestselling science-fiction novel. First, the
story seamlessly merges reality and fantasy. Second, the tale includes dire predictions about
the future if, and only if, the worst-case scenario were to happen concerning a long list of
variables. Third, the account ignores all simple solutions in favor of a dramatic conclusion.
"And, of course, there is a manufactured enemy. In this case, many seem to
indirectly and incorrectly believe that free over-the-air broadcasting is the enemy of
mobile broadband. But this debate masks the fact that there are other spectrum resources
available and that carriers and the FCC have meaningful alternatives to manage the
increased demand for data services."
~ Deborah D. McAdams
