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 STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  JONATHAN  S.  ADELSTEIN 
 Re:  Amendment  of  Part  2  of  the  Commission’s  Rules  to  Allocate  Spectrum  Below  3  GHz  for  Mobile  and  Fixed  Services  to  Support  the  Introduction  of  New  Advanced  Wireless 
 Services,  including  Third  Generation  Wireless  Systems;  ET  Docket  No.  00-  258 
 Service  Rules  for  Advanced  Wireless  Services  in  the  1915-  1920  MHz,  1995-  2000  MHz,  2020-  2025  MHz  and  2175-  2180  MHz  Bands;  WT  Docket  No.  04-  356 


 It’s  always  exciting  to  consider  new  spectrum  opportunities.  I  very  much  appreciate  the  efforts  of  the  Office  of  Engineering  and  Technology  and  the  Wireless  Telecommunications 
 Bureau  to  explore  new  ways  to  improve  the  use  of  spectrum.  I  have  talked  before  about  one  of  my  goals  to  maximize  the  services  and  information  that  flow  over  our  nation’s  airwaves.  And 
 the  items  before  us  can  really  help  to  further  that  goal. 
 At  the  same  time,  there  clearly  are  some  challenges  in  looking  at  new  services  for  the  so-called  “H”  block.  I  am  pleased  that  we  are  moving  forward  a  little  cautiously  on  some  of  the 
 technical  issues  presented  by  possible  use  of  this  band.  In  promoting  new  services,  we  always  need  to  make  sure  that  we  are  adequately  protecting  any  existing  service.  In  this  case,  we  must 
 ensure  that  our  rules  shield  the  significant  base  of  existing  PCS  customers  from  harmful  interference.  Consistent  with  a  framework  for  innovation,  the  Commission  has  a  responsibility 
 to  establish  ground  rules  for  ensuring  that  harmful  interference  does  not  occur  –  while  still  striving  to  promote  new  technologies  and  services. 


 I  think  we  are  on  the  right  track  here.  We  have  teed  up  a  lot  of  good  discussion  in  the  NPRM  on  the  interference  issue.  I  look  forward  to  hearing  the  result  of  industry  tests  over  the 
 next  several  months  and  to  following  the  healthy  debate  that  is  sure  to  follow.  I  am  pleased  with  the  outcome  today,  and  think  we  have  struck  just  the  right  balance  in  addressing  these  valuable 
 pieces  of  spectrum. 
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