The Federal Communications Commission revealed broad outlines Wednesday for the national broadband plan it is scheduled to submit to Congress early next year. One of the major challenges is to more effectively use the nation's existing telecommunication assets -- including the available wireless spectrum, which is facing impending shortages -- according to a report from the FCC's broadband task force.
The pressure is on because the clock is ticking down to release the final plan to Congress on Feb. 17, noted FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. "But the cause of universal, affordable broadband is worthy of this Herculean effort," he said. "We believe that broadband is a critical infrastructure  challenge of our generation."
Addressing the Spectrum Gap
Demand for wireless broadband service will soon exceed the supply of spectrum, according to the FCC. The problem is that it takes a long time to address spectrum gaps, which means the commission must start now, the task force said.
"A large, new spectrum allocation is essential to improving broadband competition," the task force wrote. "The country should review spectrum allocations and management practices periodically going forward to ensure the most productive use of this national asset."
The FCC said it's moving to resolve pending regulatory proceedings governing the use of frequencies already allocated for advanced wireless services (2155-2175 MHz) and other wireless communications services (2305-2320 MHz and 2345-2360 MHz). The task force also also recommended developing tools to better manage and monitor the nation's wireless spectrum.
More controversial proposals from the task force include providing broadband operators with access to the white space between channels in the TV spectrum and making use of TV frequencies to simultaneously maintain over-the-air television broadcasts. However, the broadcasting industry is adamantly opposed to sharing or relinquishing any spectrum to broadband providers.
National Association of Broadcasters CEO Gordon Smith said there is sufficient wireless spectrum available for broadband without having to encroach on frequencies allocated to TV broadcasts.
"Broadcasting and broadband are not 'either/or' propositions as some have suggested," Smith told the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet on Tuesday. "Let's look at all bands and all services -- including federal government bands -- and let's view how each service is using its existing spectrum."
Streamlined Wireless Auctions
Representatives of the U.S. cellular industry also told the subcommittee that Congress needs to streamline the process under which the FCC and makes spectrum available for auction.
"With more than 276 million subscribers in the U.S., it is vital for our industry to secure at least 800 MHz of additional spectrum within the next six years," said CITA CEO Steve Largent. "Without this additional spectrum, our industry will cease to provide U.S. consumers with the most innovative and most competitive wireless offerings in the world."
Like Smith, Largent supports the passage of a pending House resolution that calls for a properly constructed inventory to see what spectrum is available.
"Once the bill is passed, policy-makers need to be prepared to reallocate spectrum identified by the inventory as unutilized or underutilized for advanced wireless services," Largent said. Additionally, he is calling for the passage of a second bill that aims to improve "the spectrum relocation process" so frequencies can become reallocated "in a timely manner."
Subcommittee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) agrees that swift action is required. "Some experts estimate that the wireless industry in the United States needs an additional 150 MHz of spectrum to simply keep up with the explosion in wireless data usage and to remain competitive with other nations," Waxman said.
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