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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  March  13,  2003  Meribeth  McCarrick  at  (202)  418-  0654 
 FCC  INITIATES  PROCEEDING  TO  FACILITATE  WIRELESS  BROADBAND  ACCESS  IN  THE  2500-  2690  MHZ  BANDS 
 Washington,  D.  C.  –  The  Federal  Communications  Commission  (Commission)  today  opened  a  proceeding  designed  to  facilitate  the  provision  of  fixed  and  mobile  broadband  access, 
 educational  and  other  advanced  wireless  services  in  the  2500-  2690  MHz  bands.  By  this  action,  the  Commission  seeks  to  promote  competition,  innovation  and  investment  in  wireless  broadband 
 services,  and  to  promote  educational  services.  Additionally,  the  Commission  also  seeks  to  foster  the  development  of  innovative  service  offerings  to  consumers  as  well  as  educational,  medical 
 and  other  institutions,  simplify  the  licensing  process  and  delete  obsolete  and  unnecessary  regulatory  burdens. 


 Currently,  the  190  megahertz  of  spectrum  in  the  2500-  2690  MHz  bands  is  designated  for  the  provision  of  Instructional  Television  Fixed  Service  (ITFS),  Multipoint  Distribution  Service 
 (MDS)  and  the  Multichannel  Multipoint  Distribution  Service  (MMDS)  (collectively,  the  Services).  The  Services  and  the  potential  uses  for  the  spectrum  allocated  to  them  have  evolved 
 significantly  since  they  were  established  in  1963.  On  October  7,  2002,  the  Wireless  Communications  Association  International,  the  National  ITFS  Association  and  the  Catholic 
 Television  Network  (collectively,  the  Coalition)  –  representatives  of  licensees  of  the  Services  --  submitted  a  proposal  requesting  that  the  Commission  substantially  change  the  rules  governing 
 the  Services.  With  this  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  and  Memorandum  and  Opinion  and  Order  adopted  today,  the  Commission  commences  a  comprehensive  examination  of  the  rules  and 
 policies  governing  the  Services  in  order  to  provide  greater  opportunities  for  increased  access  to  spectrum  establish  uniform  regulatory  policies  for  similar  services  and  encourage  efficient  and 
 effective  utilization  of  spectrum. 
 Accordingly,  in  the  Notice  of  Propose  Rulemaking,  the  Commission  requests  comment  on  operational,  technical,  and  procedural  rule  changes.  Specifically,  the  Commission  invites 
 comment  on  how  to  reconfigure  the  2500-  2690  MHz  band,  including  but  not  limited  to  the  Coalition’s  proposal.  The  Commission  also  seeks  comment  on  how  best  to  promote  increased 
 access  to  and  efficient  utilization  of  ITFS  spectrum.  For  example,  the  Notice  considers  both  a  geographic  licensing  approach  and  an  unlicensed  approach  for  available  ITFS  spectrum.  The 
 Notice  also  proposes  technical  rules  designed  to  increase  licensee  flexibility  while  eliminating  unnecessary  regulations  and  protecting  incumbent  operations  in  the  2500-  2690  MHz  bands, 
 including  rules  governing  mobile  operations. 
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 In  addition,  the  Notice  proposes  to  simplify  and  streamline  the  licensing  process  for  the  Services.  In  this  connection,  it  proposes  application  filing  and  processing  procedures  to  facilitate 
 implementation  of  the  Services  into  the  Universal  Licensing  System. 
 As  a  result  of  these  proposed  rule  changes,  the  Commission  anticipates  that  licensees  will  be  afforded  an  opportunity  to  provide  alternatives  for  the  provision  of  broadband  services  to 
 consumers  in  urban,  suburban,  and  rural  areas.  The  rule  changes  will  also  improve  opportunities  for  distance  learning  and  telemedicine  services  by  new  or  incumbent  licensees. 


 In  the  Memorandum  Opinion  and  Order,  the  Commission  suspends  construction  deadlines  for  current  MDS  and  ITFS  authorization  holders  pending  the  completion  of  this 
 rulemaking  proceeding.  The  Commission  determined  that  a  suspension  was  necessary  while  it  reexamines  the  performance  requirements  for  authorization  holders.  The  Commission  also 
 establishes  a  Gulf  of  Mexico  service  area  for  the  MDS,  which  has  been  the  subject  of  an  outstanding  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  adopted  last  year. 


 Action  by  the  Commission  on  March  13,  2003,  by  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  and  Memorandum  Opinion  and  Order  (FCC  03-  56).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy, 
 Copps,  Martin  and  Adelstein  with  Chairman  Powell  and  Commissioners  Abernathy  and  Copps  issuing  separate  statements. 


 -  FCC  - 
 Wireless  Bureau  Contacts:  Nancy  Zaczek  or  Charles  Oliver  at  (202)  418-  0680  or  nzaczek@  fcc.  gov  or  coliver@  fcc.  gov. 


 WT  Docket  No.  02-  68;  03-  66;  03-  67;  MM  Docket  No.  97-  217. 
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