Wireless Future Project

Archives: Wireless Future Project Transcripts and Supporting Documents

Spectrum 101

May 3, 2012

Michael Calabrese, the Director of the Wireless Future Project at the Open Technology Institute, delivered this "Spectrum 101" presentation as part of a panel at Spectrum for Democracy: Securing the Gains from the Arab Spring on May 3, 2012. The presentation explains some of the technical basics of spectrum, as well as issues of regulation, scarcity, interference, and license-exempt use.

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Public Interest Organizations Support LightSquared Wholesale Mobile Network

  • and John Bergmayer, Harold Feld; Public Knowledge; Chris Riley, Matthew F. Wood, Free Press; and Chrystiane Pereira, Media Access Project
August 1, 2011

In 2010, the Federal Communications Commission approved an application by LightSquared to create a wholesale mobile broadband network by combining land-based and mobile satellite services. Subsequently, the commercial GPS industry opposed the network, arguing it would cause harmful interference to GPS devices. In response to a request for comments about the report of the Technical Working Group ordered by the FCC to study the interference issues, the New America Foundation, Free Press, Public Knowledge, and Media Access Project (the Public Interest Organizations) urge the FCC to actively intervene to broker, or impose if necessary, a plan that will not leave the L Band spectrum that LightSquared controls fallow, that will permit LightSquared to deploy its promised wholesale-only mobile broadband network on at least part of its spectrum, and that will safeguard essential GPS services.

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Comments on Amendments to the FCC’s Rules to Improve Wireless Coverage Through the Use of Signal Boosters

  • and Harold Feld, Rashmi Rangnath and Joe Newman: Public Knowledge
July 25, 2011

Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation (“PK and NAF”) support both consumer choice and the responsible use of mobile wireless signal boosters. PK and NAF agree with the Commission that if properly designed and certified, mobile signal boosters have the potential to greatly benefit the public while automatically providing sufficient protection against harmful interference. PK and NAF agree with the Commission’s proposal that mobile signal boosters should be classified as Section 307(e) devices and authorized without an individual license for use on any or all networks.

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Testimony on Behalf of the Wireless Innovation Alliance and Public Interest Spectrum Coalition at the Legislative Hearing to Address Spectrum and Public Safety Issues

July 14, 2011

Thank you, Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Eshoo and members of the Committee, for this opportunity to testify today on the critical issue of how best to reallocate the nation’s public spectrum resource to promote mobile broadband, while promoting public safety communication and preserving the public benefits of over-the-air broadcasting.

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Reply Comments on Amendment of the Commission's Rules Related to Retransmission Consent

  • and Harold Feld, Rashmi Rangnath, Joe Newman - Public Knowledge
June 29, 2011

Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation ("PK and NAF") respectfully submit these reply comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released in the above-captioned docket. PK and NAF oppose a proposed rule that MVPDs must give notice to subscribers in the event of a potential programming blackout, and disagree with commenters that assert that the Cable Act prevents the Commission from adopting mechanisms to ensure fair retransmission consent negotiations.

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Comments on Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization

April 21, 2011

INTRODUCTION

New America Foundation (“NAF”) respectfully submits these comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) in the above-captioned dockets. The NPRM seeks comment on the rules designed to improve delivery of Lifeline and Link Up benefits to low-income consumers and to enhance protections against waste, fraud, and abuse related to the fund.

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Reply Comments on FCC Dynamic Spectrum Access Notice of Inquiry

  • and Matthew Wood, Media Access Project on behalf of the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition (PISC)
April 20, 2011

As indicated in the initial comments filed by PISC in this proceeding, PISC supports the
Commission’s initiation of this inquiry as the first step toward fulfilling two recommendations in
the National Broadband Plan “to accelerate the development of opportunistic use technologies
and to expand access to additional spectrum.” The comments filed to date evidence widespread
agreement that dynamic spectrum access (DSA) technologies have tremendous potential to
promote greater spectrum access, capacity, and efficiency in both licensed and unlicensed bands.

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In re Applications of AT&T MOBILITY SPECTRUM LLC and QUALCOMM INCORPORATED For Consent to the Assignment Of Lower 700 MHz Band Licenses

  • By Free Press, et al
March 29, 2011

SUMMARY

Spectrum is a public resource, and must be protected as such. The ability to hold and transfer spectrum licenses is a privilege, not a right. That privilege must be carefully and closely regulated by the Commission to ensure that the use of spectrum serves the public interest. Attempts to exercise the privilege of transfer face a substantial burden of proof - and Applicants have failed to meet that burden, as several petitioners have shown.

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Opposition to Applications for Review of FCC Waiver to LightSquared

  • and on behalf of Public Interest Spectrum Coalition (PISC)
March 14, 2011

New America Foundation, Media Access Project, Free Press and Public Knowledge (collectively, “the Public Interest Organizations”) hereby file comments in opposition to seven Applications for Review, and one Petition for Reconsideration, of the International Bureau’s Order and Authorization (“O&A”) approving the application by LightSquared Subsidiary LLC (“LightSquared”) to modify its current authorization to offer an integrated MSS/terrestrial service.

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Comments on FCC Dynamic Spectrum Access Notice of Inquiry

  • and on behalf of Public Interest Spectrum Coalition (PISC)
February 28, 2011

PISC applauds the Commission for taking a vital first step toward creating a roadmap for unlocking the veritable “vast wasteland” of unused and underutilized spectrum capacity. As consumer demand for mobile data is projected to continue to outstrip network capacity, the nation will soon run out of high-quality spectrum that can be reallocated for mobile broadband services on an exclusively licensed basis.

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