STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER ROBERT M. McDOWELL
Re: Amendment of Part 27 of  the Commission’s Rules to Govern the Operation of Wireless 
Communications Services in the 2.3 GHz Band, WT Docket No. 07-293; Establishment of 
Rules and Policies for the Digital Audio Satellite Service in the 2310-2360 MHz Frequency 
Band, IB Docket No. 95-91, GEN Docket No. 90-357
Given our diligent and thorough technical and legal analyses, the new regulatory 
framework we adopt today has been a long time in the making.  I am pleased that our work paves 
the way for deployment of mobile broadband in the Wireless Communications Services spectrum, 
while also protecting adjacent satellite radio, aeronautical mobile telemetry, and deep space 
network operations from harmful interference. This means that the mobile broadband 
marketplace will be even more competitive, and that American consumers will continue to 
benefit.  
At the outset, I want to thank Julius Knapp, Ron Repasi, Pat Forster, and the entire Office 
of Engineering team for your outstanding work here.  This has been an extraordinarily lengthy 
(13 years), not to mention trying, proceeding.  No surprise that you folks rose to the challenge.  
This order is well-written and clear, which will benefit the affected entities by providing the 
certainty they need as they deploy new systems and upgrade existing ones.  
 
The extensive technical record – which includes field testing – gives us the confidence to 
conclude that instances where WCS would seriously degrade, obstruct or repeatedly interrupt 
satellite radio transmission occur rarely, if at all.  Thus, clear rules and tight coordination 
procedures are all the more important.  I am voting to support today’s decision because it 
promotes competition among multiple mobile platforms, encourages new entry into the mobile 
market, and provides more incentives for investment and innovation.  
Moreover, the performance requirements established for the WCS licensees will afford 
them bright-line certainty and will help ensure a rapid build-out and meaningful deployment, as 
well as facilitate Commission review of the progress.  I am pleased that we extended the original 
proposal by one full year.  I appreciate the valuable comments from the WCS companies and 
their investors regarding the time lines for raising capital and developing and commencing 
service, which we have taken into account in today’s order.  
In addition to OET and the WCS community, I thank everyone who took part in bringing 
this complicated matter to conclusion, in particular the teams in the International and the Wireless 
Telecommunications bureaus.  This was a team effort.  I appreciate your outstanding work.