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 SEPARATE  STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  KATHLEEN  Q.  ABERNATHY 
 Re:  Interference  Immunity  Performance  Specifications  For  Radio  Receivers  (ET  Docket  No.  03-  65);  Review  of  the  Commission’s  Rules  and 
 Policies  Affecting  the  Conversion  to  Digital  Television  (MM  Docket  No.  00-  39),  Notice  of  Inquiry 


 Today’s  NOI  is  an  important  step  toward  improving  the  Commission’s  spectrum  management  policy.  As  part  of  its  approach,  the  FCC  traditionally  has  relied  primarily 
 on  approaches  that  control  the  emissions  and  locations  of  transmitters  and  the  frequencies  used  by  specific  types  of  radio  operations.  While  this  method  has  worked  in  the  past,  the 
 changing  pace  of  technology  and  the  increasing  demands  placed  on  the  spectrum  resource  indicate  that  it  is  time  for  the  FCC  to  look  into  changing  its  approach.  Accordingly,  and 
 as  recognized  in  the  Spectrum  Task  Force  Report,  I  believe  that  this  NOI  moves  the  FCC  in  the  right  direction  by  promoting  a  more  flexible  and  market-  oriented  approach  to 
 setting  interference  immunity  performance  standards  for  radio  receivers. 
 Today’s  NOI  sets  the  stage  for  the  FCC  to  gather  data  from  all  interested  parties  on  ways  to  ensure  flexibility  to  allow  for  the  introduction  of  new  digital  radio  technologies  and  to 
 allow  licensees  the  flexibility  to  implement  new  technologies  in  receiver  standards.  Importantly,  the  NOI  proposes  to  accomplish  this  through  the  imposition  of  both 
 voluntary  guidelines  and,  where  appropriate,  mandatory  rules.  This  approach  is  consistent  with  my  view  on  spectrum  management  that  where  possible,  the  FCC  should  afford 
 licensees  flexibility  in  the  deployment  of  technologies. 
 At  the  end  of  the  day,  this  proceeding  will  have  a  direct  impact  on  the  every  day  life  of  American  consumers.  For  example,  the  information  gathered  in  this  proceeding  will 
 form  the  basis  for  the  interference  standards  for  many  of  the  items  we  each  use  on  a  daily  basis  including  the  next  generation  of  digital  televisions  and  AM/  FM  radios.  I  look 
 forward  to  gathering  a  record  in  this  proceeding  that  will  help  us  harness  the  enormous  potential  of  spectrum-  based  services  to  bring  to  consumers  innovative  technologies  and 
 new  services. 
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