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 SEPARATE  STATEMENT  OF  CHAIRMAN  MICHAEL  K.  POWELL 
 Re:  Facilitating  Opportunities  for  Flexible,  Efficient,  and  Reliable  Spectrum  Use  Employing  Cognitive  Radio  Technologies  (ET  Docket  No.  03-  108);  Authorization  and  Use  of  Software 
 Defined  Radios  (ET  Docket  No.  00-  47),  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  and  Order 
 Today  we  take  another  step  forward  to  improve  access  and  efficiency  of  our  Nation’s  spectrum  and  to  provide  opportunities  beyond  today’s  horizon.  I  am  pleased  to  support  this 
 item  that  grew  out  of  the  Spectrum  Policy  Task  Force  and  that  explores  the  many  benefits  of  smart  radio  technology  and  its  real-  time  processing  capabilities.  Last  week,  I  had  the  pleasure 
 of  visiting  several  high-  tech  companies  and  met  with  tribal  communities  that  are  taking  advantage  of  these  new  and  innovative  technologies. 


 Recent  advances  in  smart  radio  technologies  have  the  potential  to  provide  more  innovative,  flexible,  and  comprehensive  use  of  spectrum  while  at  the  same  time  minimizing 
 the  risk  of  harmful  interference.  On  a  real-  time  basis,  smart  radios  determine  their  location  or  environment,  have  the  flexibility  to  select  the  best  frequencies  to  use,  know  how  to  avoid 
 interference  with  existing  users,  and  can  use  vacant  spectrum  channels.  Not  only  do  they  have  flexibility  to  use  a  variety  of  frequencies,  they  also  can  understand  and  transmit  in  many 
 different  formats. 
 Smart  radio  technologies  also  offer  potential  solutions  to  the  increasingly  crucial  interoperability  demands  facing  public  safety  entities  and  other  licensed  users  to  enable  them 
 to  coordinate  response  and  recovery  efforts  and  ensure  national  security.  Because  they  can  use  different  frequencies  and  modulation  techniques,  smart  radios  could  also  translate  signals 
 between  two  different  radio  systems.  This  ability  may  enable  more  interoperability  between  public  safety  first  responders  –  so  that,  in  an  emergency,  firefighters  from  one  jurisdiction 
 could  more  effectively  communicate  with  firefighters  in  another  jurisdiction. 
 Today’s  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  and  Order  is  part  of  a  larger  effort  to  expand  opportunities  for  wireless  services  in  rural  America.  We  recently  adopted  two  Notices  of 
 Proposed  Rulemakings  designed  to  foster  advanced  telecommunications  in  rural  America.  First,  an  NPRM  on  how  we  can  clarify  rules  to  minimize  regulatory  costs  and  provide 
 incentives  to  serve  rural  markets.  And  second,  an  NPRM  on  modified  power  limits,  new  technologies  such  as  smart  antennas,  and  streamlined  equipment  approval. 


 In  this  proceeding,  we  will  consider  the  technical  capabilities  as  well  as  proposed  changes  to  the  Commission’s  rules  and  equipment  authorization  processes  to  accommodate 
 and  enable  more  efficient  use  of  software  defined  radio  and  cognitive  radio  system  technologies.  Of  special  note  is  the  potential  of  smart  radios  to  facilitate  spectrum  leasing 
 transactions,  including  possible  leasing  of  public  safety  spectrum  that  would  not  otherwise  be  possible  without  the  technology. 


 The  possible  uses  for  smart  radios  are  wide  ranging.  The  challenge  before  the  Commission  is  to  determine  how  we  can  open  the  door  for  these  technologies  so  as  not  to  shut 
 out  any  of  their  tremendous  potential. 
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