The FCC has formed a new Wireless Broadband Access Task Force with a mission to review applicable spectrum management policies and regulations. The Task Force is seeking comments from the public regarding wireless broadband policies and deployment. Specifically, input is sought on the following issues:
- 1. To what extent are both licensed and unlicensed wireless broadband networks providing an alternative facilities-based platform to other broadband services, including cable and DSL? To what extent have wireless broadband service providers increased broadband access and competition in rural and underserved areas? If so, are regulatory changes needed to promote or advance these trends?
- 2. Does the Commission currently provide sufficient spectrum suitable for wireless broadband networks? Is the relative availability of spectrum for licensed services or unlicensed devices appropriate? If not, how so?
- 3. Do the services offered using unlicensed devices and those using licensed networks complement each other? If so, how?
- 4. There are several different regulatory approaches that determine access to the spectrum for wireless broadband service providers. Service providers using networks composed of unlicensed devices do not pay for access to the spectrum, but must not cause interference and must share the spectrum with other operators of unlicensed devices, whereas access to other spectrum is obtained through licensing after successful bidding at auction. In addition, some spectrum has been made available on a first come, first served basis. Has the method for access to spectrum affected the development of wireless technologies and the provisioning of wireless broadband services? If so, how?
- 5. Wireless broadband offers clear advantages over other broadband alternatives in terms of both portability and mobility. Do the Commission’s rules effectively provide for or account for these capabilities? Could these rules be more flexible? If so, how?
- 6. Are there regulatory incentives that would foster continued investment in and deployment of state-of-the-art technologies? If so, what are they? Are the incentives different for licensed services as compared with services offered using unlicensed devices?
- 7. What is the extent and nature of the deployment of wireless broadband services (market penetration rates; the geographic distribution of wireless broadband services; the extent of competition in the areas in which wireless broadband is deployed; and whether licensed services, unlicensed devices, or a combination of both licensed service and unlicensed devices are used; and the types of technologies used in the networks deployed)?
- 8. With the continued development of new technologies and network configurations, including mesh networks and integrated wireless broadband networks and devices that use both licensed and unlicensed spectrum, are there any rules that require review for updating or increased flexibility?
- 9. What are the applications associated with wireless broadband deployment?
- 10. What about wireless issues in specific communities, such as rural or urban, large or small, and in varied geographic regions?
- 11. Are there ways in which federal wireless broadband policies could facilitate better available policy options for states and municipalities? If so, how?
- 12. What barriers (information, infrastructure) to entry remain for WISP entrepreneurs particularly for unlicensed services? To the extent identified, how can government address these issues?
Comments are due by June 3. The Task Force will issue a report and its recommendations to the FCC in October 2004. http://www.fcc.gov/wbatf/