STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER MEREDITH A. BAKER
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
I support today’s approach with respect to the 2.3GHz spectrum as a balanced and viable 
compromise between the need to facilitate the deployment of mobile broadband and promote 
spectrum efficiency and the need to protect incumbent interests in both aeronautical telemetry and 
satellite radio from harmful interference.  The rule provides a practical and intelligent solution 
that will benefit the public by enabling the deployment of latest generation wireless technologies 
while protecting important services in the adjacent bands.  Furthermore, the increased 
performance requirements for WCS licensees impose reasonable and attainable benchmarks to 
ensure that rapid build-out occurs.
I have repeatedly said that one of the keys to increased domestic broadband deployment 
is to make more efficient use of existing spectrum.  By 2020, mobile broadband will be the 
primary Internet access tool around the world, and we must work together to put all available 
spectrum to its highest and best use.  Today we take one more step down that road and close a 
long and difficult chapter of our spectrum policy.  In reliance upon a comprehensive technical 
record, we address the questions involving mobile operations in the WCS band that were first 
raised in a Further Notice adopted by the Commission in December 2007 that invited comment 
on technical proposals by both SDARS and WCS interests.  
FCC technical staff, along with representatives of the International and Wireless 
Communications Bureaus, have thoroughly vetted the many responses in that docket and have 
held extensive meetings with interested parties to explore and understand outstanding technical 
issues and seek agreement.  In addition, Commission technical staff attended the public tests 
conducted by SDARS and WCS interests in July 2009 in Ashburn, Virginia to demonstrate 
conditions necessary to prevent harmful interference.  Moreover, Commission staff recently 
issued a Public Notice inviting comment on the specific text of the rules it planned to recommend 
to the Chairman and the Commissioners and further extensive comment was submitted in 
response.  My thanks go to everyone across the Commission for their diligent, hard and careful 
work.
I am also pleased that we have acted to resolve the outstanding questions with respect to 
the terrestrial repeaters used for satellite digital radio services and related technical issues.  All 
parties will benefit from a final decision from the Commission on these important questions that 
establish a way forward for both WCS and SDARs services.
Today’s action establishes regulatory certainty that should open the door to investment 
and innovation in the 2.3GHz and adjacent bands.  To this end, I hope parties will increase their 
efforts to improve on the conditions for co-existence that we establish here today and vigorously 
explore ways in which new technologies can provide additional intelligence to further reduce any 
potential for interference.
Congratulations and my thanks again to all the Staff who worked on this item.