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 SEPARATE  STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  KEVIN  J.  MARTIN 
 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. 
 I  am  pleased  to  see  the  Commission  is  seeking  comment  on  modifications  to  Parts  2  and  15  of  its  rules.  It  is  always  a  challenge  to  ensure  that  our  rules  keep  pace  with,  and 
 at  the  very  least,  do  not  hinder,  the  advancement  of  new  technologies  and  the  opportunities  they  provide.  This  NPRM  proposes  modifications  allowing  for  advanced 
 antenna  technologies  and  new  spread  spectrum  devices,  as  well  as  increased  flexibility  in  systems  designed  to  operate  in  these  bands.  I  am  hopeful  that  unlicensed  operations  will, 
 as  some  have  suggested,  eventually  provide  a  last-  mile  application  to  connect  people’s  homes  to  the  Internet,  offering  a  real  alternative  to  telephone  wires,  cable,  and  satellite 
 connections,  particularly  for  rural  America. 
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