Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Looking Ahead To 2009 Andrew Seybold - Monday, January 05, 2009
...The most difficult thing to prognosticate about is what will happen with the 700-MHz D Block and the shared public/private spectrum, as well as the AWS-3 spectrum, because we do not know who will be filling the commissioner seats on the FCC, nor do we know how much of a role the new administration and congress will play. We do know that the new administration has said broadband for all who live in the United States is a priority, but that is one of about a thousand priorities for this administration and it will take some time to learn about its ideas. Meanwhile, I have written a white paper about broadband for all and it is available on our website. I don't believe broadband for all is about technology or spectrum, but rather about two very different economic issues.
I hope the new FCC will take a new, fresh look at the 700-MHz shared spectrum proposal and work with the first responder community and not simply plow ahead. I know this project continues to be delayed, which is not good news for the industry or first responders, but at this point and with our current economic situation, perhaps a little more time is in order to thoroughly examine what would be best for all concerned. The decision to move ahead or to try a different approach should be made only after careful consideration. This is not something to be listed as a crowning achievement of someone's term in office. ...
... I would also like the commercial wireless industry to become better educated about the differences between first responder wireless requirements and what commercial operators can provide today, and conversely, I would like first responder communications professionals to get their collective act together and approach the issue of a public/private partnership with one voice. Being divided into warring factions gives the commercial community the impression that no matter what it does, it will not be able to provide any of what first responders really need in the way of interoperability. ...

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