FCC Press Release.
Re: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding 3G wireless services.
Date: January 4, 2001.
Source: The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau e-mailed an MS Word version of this release. Tech Law Journal converted this into HTML.

FCC LOOKS TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL SPECTRUM
FOR NEW ADVANCED WIRELESS SYSTEMS

Washington, DC – The Federal Communications Commission has adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) to explore the possible use of frequency bands below 3 GHz to support the introduction of new advanced wireless services, including third generation (“3G”) as well as future generations of wireless systems. Advanced wireless systems could provide a wide range of voice, data and broadband services to the public over a variety of mobile and fixed networks.

This proceeding will explore the types of advanced mobile and fixed communication services that will likely be provided in the future, including the technical characteristics of such systems, and the spectrum requirements needed to support the introduction of such services, including the amount of spectrum needed and frequency bands that could be used by such systems.

This proceeding also will explore the possibility of introducing new advanced mobile and fixed services in frequency bands currently used for cellular, broadband Personal Communications Service (“PCS”), and Specialized Mobile Radio (“SMR”) services, as well as in five other frequency bands: 1710-1755 MHz, 1755-1850 MHz, 2110-2150 MHz, 2160-2165 MHz and 2500-2690 MHz. Concerning the possible use of these additional bands for advanced wireless systems, the Notice does the following:

• proposes to allocate for mobile and fixed services the 1710-1755 MHz band that was designated for reallocation from Federal Government to non-Federal Government use under two statutory directives, the 1993 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“OBRA-93”) and the 1997 Balanced Budget Act (“BBA-97”);
  
• seeks comment on providing mobile and fixed service allocations for the 1755-1850 MHz band, if spectrum in the band is made available for non-Federal Government use;
  
• proposes to designate advanced mobile and fixed service use of the 2110-2150 MHz and 2160-2165 MHz bands that are currently used for a variety of fixed and mobile services and that were identified for reallocation under the Commission’s 1992 Emerging Technologies proceeding (ET Docket No. 92-9);
  
• seeks comment on various approaches for the 2500-2690 MHz band, which is currently used for Multichannel Multipoint Distribution and Instructional Television Fixed Services.

The Commission also adopted an Order that denies a petition filed by the Satellite Industry Association requesting that the 2500-2520 MHz and 2670-2690 MHz bands be reallocated to the Mobile-Satellite Service.

Action by the Commission December 29, 2000, by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order (FCC 00-455). Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell, and Tristani.

ET Docket No. 00-258

- FCC-

OET Staff Contacts:
Rodney Small at 202-418-2452; e-mail at rsmall@fcc.gov;
Ira Keltz at 202-418-0616; e-mail at ikeltz@fcc.gov;
Geraldine Matise at 202-418-2322; e-mail at gmatise@fcc.gov.