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 STATEMENT  OF  CHAIRMAN  KEVIN  J.  MARTIN 
 Re:  In  the  Matter  of  Service  Rules  for  the  698-  746,  747-  762  and  777-  792  MHz  Bands;  Revision  of  the  Commission’s  Rules  to  Ensure  Compatibility  with  Enhanced  911 
 Emergency  Calling  Systems;  Section  68.4(  a)  of  the  Commission’s  Rules  Governing  Hearing  Aid-  Compatible  Telephones  (WT  Docket  Nos.  06-  150,  01- 
 309,  and  CC  Docket  No.  94-  102),  FCC  06-  114 


 With  today’s  action,  the  Commission  continues  its  efforts  to  provide  consumers  with  new  and  advanced  wireless  services  by  making  spectrum  available  for  wireless 
 broadband. 
 The  Commission  will  soon  auction  90  MHz  of  spectrum  in  the  Advanced  Wireless  Services  band.  In  this  item,  we  seek  comment  on  our  service  rules  for  the  700 
 MHz  band,  which  is  similarly  well-  suited  for  the  provision  of  wireless  broadband  services  and  must  be  auctioned  for  commercial  use  by  January  28,  2008.  We  are 
 reevaluating  our  service  rules  for  this  band  to  account  for  Congress’  recent  adoption  of  digital  television  legislation  and  the  needs  of  both  small  and  large  service  providers.  We 
 also  intend  to  ensure  that  service  providers  in  this  band  and  other  broadband  bands  comply  with  our  E911  and  hearing  aid-  compatibility  rules. 


 I  expect  that  wireless  services  will  continue  to  be  an  increasing  part  of  broadband  service  deployment.  Consumers  are  increasingly  demanding  access  to  broadband 
 services  any  time  they  want  it,  wherever  they  want  it.  This  spectrum  will  help  bring  consumers  everywhere  more  opportunities  to  use  these  services  both  at  home  and  on  the 
 go. 
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