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 STATEMENT  OF  CHAIRMAN  MICHAEL  K.  POWELL 
 Re:  Modification  of  Parts  2  and  15  of  the  Commission’s  Rules  for  Unlicensed  Devices  and  Equipment  Approval;  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking;  ET  Docket  No.  03- 
 201. 


 One  of  the  Commission’s  most  important  goals  is  to  provide  the  opportunity  for  innovative  communications  technologies  to  take  hold  and  take  off.  Wireless  broadband 
 services  using  unlicensed  devices  are  doing  just  that. 
 Earlier  this  week,  I  had  the  opportunity  to  see  first-  hand  a  rural  wireless  broadband  network  in  Bluemont,  Virginia.  Using  a  network  made  up  of  entirely 
 unlicensed  devices,  Roadstar  Internet  provides  wireless  broadband  services  to  both  commercial  and  residential  customers.  Roadstar  is  literally  a  mom  and  pop  operation, 
 run  by  Marty  and  Rose  Dougherty,  and  headquartered  in  a  barn  behind  their  home.  Many  of  Roadstar’s  subscribers  previously  had  no  broadband  option.  Now  in  Bluemont,  a  local 
 company  can  market  its  products  over  the  Internet,  students  can  benefit  from  distance  learning,  and  local  workers  can  telecommute. 


 What’s  exciting  about  all  of  this  is  that  wireless  internet  service  providers  (WISPs),  like  Roadstar,  are  springing  up  all  over  the  country  –  from  Bluemont,  Virginia 
 to  Coffman  Cove,  Alaska.  It’s  the  dawn  of  a  new  facilities-  based  broadband  industry;  a  new  industry  spawned  in  part  by  the  Commission’s  unlicensed  rules. 


 Wireless  networking  is  also  a  critical  component  for  enterprise  communications.  And,  indeed,  this  market  segment  accounts  for  most  of  the  total  sales  of  wireless 
 equipment.  It  is  estimated  that  by  the  year  2005,  sales  will  exceed  $5  billion.  Clearly,  wireless  networking  is  one  of  the  strongest  engines  in  the  current  communications 
 economy. 
 The  Notice  we  adopt  today  is  a  significant  step  in  providing  even  more  opportunities  for  the  wireless  networking  industry,  including  WISPs,  to  continue  to  grow. 
 We  are  clearing  the  way  for  deployment  of  advanced  antenna  technologies.  At  the  same  time,  we  are  providing  manufacturers  and  operators  more  flexibility  in  our  equipment 
 authorization  process. 
 So  that  progress  in  this  direction  can  continue,  next  Thursday  we  are  holding  a  rural  WISP  showcase  and  workshop.  Participants  will  be  discussing  many  of  the 
 technical,  regulatory,  and  business  “how-  tos”  associated  with  starting  and  running  a  WISP.  One  of  the  highlights  of  the  workshop  will  be  a  session  focusing  on  the  varied 
 services  made  available  through  wireless  broadband  provided  by  WISPs  –  from  telemedicine  to  distance  learning  to  community  networking. 
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 And  there  is  more  progress  on  the  way.  This  fall  we  plan  to  examine  the  potential  innovation  available  through  the  use  of  cognitive  radios  –  including  reviewing  the 
 possibility  of  permitting  unlicensed  devices  to  operate  at  higher  powers  under  certain  circumstances,  which  may  be  especially  important  for  rural  communities.  We  also  plan 
 to  issue  a  Report  and  Order  making  an  additional  255  MHz  of  unlicensed  spectrum  available  at  5  GHz  –  this  is  one  area  of  the  spectrum  currently  being  used  by  WISPs, 
 including  Roadstar,  and  the  additional  spectrum  will  provide  them  with  even  more  opportunities  for  growth.  We  continue  to  explore  the  possibilities  for  additional 
 unlicensed  spectrum  use  at  3.6  GHz  and  in  the  television  bands. 
 Wireless  broadband  has  the  potential  to  be  an  important  catalyst  for  positive  change.  From  barnyards  to  boardrooms,  wireless  networking  brings  the  benefits  of 
 broadband  communications  where  people  need  them.  The  Commission’s  action  today  is  an  important  step  in  facilitating  this  change. 
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