The Federal Communications Commission’s International Bureau (IB) is developing U.S. commercial positions for the upcoming International Telecommunication Union’s World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) being held June 9 to July 4 in Geneva, Switzerland.

IB Chief Don Abelson said that his bureau has put together a group of experts to support the U.S. delegation to the WRC, including staff members from his bureau and other FCC bureaus. He said that there are more than 40 items on the agenda at the WRC.

“An interesting issue coming up at the WRC will be allocating spectrum for Wi-Fi [wireless local area network technology]. This is a technology that needs more spectrum … There is a general recognition of the importance of Wi-Fi,” Abelson said.

The FCC is also working on satellite issues for WRC, such as additional feeder links for satellite companies and interference safeguards, he said. “It’s hard to characterize this WRC,” he added.

In his wide-ranging talk with journalists earlier this month, Abelson discussed a number of satellite issues of concern to his bureau:

• The IB granted authority to Digital Broadband Applications Corp. (DBAC) to use a Canadian satellite to offer direct broadcast satellite (DBS) and Internet services to U.S. consumers. “This is an innovation because previously the FCC didn’t allow Canadian facilities to offer DBS services in the U.S.”
• In February, the FCC issued an order allowing mobile satellite services (MSS) to use wireless capabilities known as ancillary terrestrial component (ATC). Responding to a question about whether the original MSS applicants were still interested in deploying ATC, Abelson said there have been companies that have expressed “interest” in using the spectrum for ATC. “The success of it is whether we have achieved the goal of providing the flexibility to deploy ATC. If it is not of interest to companies, they won’t use it. I don’t see that as being a measure of our success.”
• The bureau is actively enforcing milestones for license holders to build out and deploy their satellite systems. “Our goal is efficient use of spectrum. If the spectrum is not being used, then let it be used by somebody else that can use it more efficiently.”
• The FCC issued an order “streamlining” the agency’s satellite license system by “developing a queue” so that satellites can be licensed in six to nine months, depending on whether they are geostationary or nongeostationary systems. This is the so-called “first-come, first-served” license system adopted last month.
• The bureau has succeeded in reducing the backlog of U.S. earth station license applications to the lowest level in 27 years.
• Responding to a question about the FCC’s requirement that the U.S. satellite radio companies develop interoperable equipment but with no deadline, Abelson said that the companies “need to get to a point where it is technically feasible to provide interoperable equipment and service.” The goal is to enable consumers to be able to change service without incurring additional costs,” he said. He said the FCC would not mandate the timeframe for that to happen.
• The bureau has been working with the Commission on examining infrastructure security issues. “We are planning a series of video conferences with colleagues around the world on this issue as we learn more about our infrastructure,” he said.

–Fred Donovan

(Linda Haller, FCC International Bureau, 202/418-1408)