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 SEPARATE  STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  MICHAEL  J.  COPPS 
 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  Rule  Making  and  Order 


 Cognitive  radios  have  the  potential  to  be  a  powerful  tool  for  increasing  spectral  efficiency  while  keeping  interference  at  acceptably  low  levels.  So,  I  hope  that  this 
 NPRM  keeps  us  moving  in  the  direction  of  allowing  consumers  and  companies  to  take  advantage  of  these  new  technologies.  I  am  also  eager  to  explore  the  idea  of  allowing 
 higher  power  levels  for  unlicensed  technologies  in  rural  areas.  The  wireless  networking  community  has  been  asking  for  this  for  a  long  time  now.  If  higher  powers  allow  them  to 
 bring  more  service  to  under-  served  areas,  and  more  competition  to  areas  largely  bereft  of  competition,  we  are  already  late  to  the  game.  So  I’m  glad  we’re  moving  forward. 


 Finally,  I  want  to  note  that  while  this  NPRM  examines  technologies  that  would  allow  public  safety  entities  such  as  police  departments  and  fire  companies  to  lease 
 spectrum  to  non-  public-  safety  users,  I  will  need  to  be  convinced  that  this  is  a  good  idea  before  voting  to  allow  it.  While  I  want  to  increase  the  efficiency  of  spectrum  use  in 
 crowded  bands,  I  will  need  to  see  proof  that  allowing  commercial  operation  in  the  same  bands  relied  on  by  policemen  and  firemen  is  safe.  And  I  will  need  to  be  convinced  that 
 the  lure  of  big  dollar  figures  from  commercial  companies  will  not  lead  to  states  and  municipalities  living  in  difficult  budget  environments  to  lease  out  not  only  extra 
 spectrum,  but  also  core  spectrum. 
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