FCC Initiates Review of Mobile Spectrum Policies

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to reexamine its mobile spectrum holding policies, last reviewed comprehensively more than a decade ago. 

The FCC review makes sense, many would argue, in light of the greater importance of terrestrial mobile broadband, compared to fixed or mobile satellite services, and the shifting of spectrum to terrestrial use. 

Also, the coming spectrum auctions for former broadcast TV frequencies necessarily will raise issues about the quality and quantity of competitor spectrum holdings, pro-competitive measures that might be taken and an overall need for clear and stable rules to stimulate investment.

As always, the setting of new rules necessarily will create concrete business advantage for some contestants, compared to others, likely creating new opportunities for at least some new or smaller contestants. 

In related moves, the FCC also is looking at its licensing rules for satellite services, with a new emphasis on interference issues. That has taken on new significance in light of repurposed low-power satellite frequencies that will operate as higher-power terrestrial Long Term Evolution 4G networks. 

The FCC also is preparing to auction spectrum formerly used by broadcasters, to support LTE networks. 

All of those moves show the heightened importance of spectrum policy, at the moment, for broadband progress overall.