STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN
Re: Amendment of Part 101 of the Commission’s Rules to Modify Antenna Requirements for 
the 10.7-11.7 GHz Band; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; WT Docket No. 07-51
While long overdue, I am pleased that we finally are adopting this Notice to consider the 
use of smaller antennas in the 11 GHz band.  Smaller antennas are significantly easier to site on 
buildings and towers, and, provided that the potential for harmful interference can be 
appropriately managed, we should always try to encourage their use.  This is particularly 
appropriate since these smaller antennas should make it easier for the last-mile delivery of 
wireless broadband services to buildings that may currently be difficult or expensive to reach 
with antennas currently allowed under our rules.
Given the potential benefits of this proceeding, it is unfortunate that is has taken over two 
and a half years for the Commission to act on the initiating FiberTower Petition for Rulemaking, 
which was filed on July 14, 2004.  If we truly are going to be serious about promoting the 
deployment of spectrum-based services, and wireless broadband in particular, we must place a 
higher priority on moving these spectrum policy matters forward.  For example, in a speech to 
the National Spectrum Managers Association in May 2006, I noted that the Commission was 
long overdue on ruling on a number of important spectrum maters including this very same
proceeding:
But my concerns about our spectrum policy making and our wireless broadband efforts 
are not just limited to high profile proceedings.  My staff and I regularly hear from 
parties who are developing new technologies or are involved in ongoing proceedings, 
but are unable to move forward due to a lack of guidance from the Commission.  
Unfortunately, the list is long and probably all too familiar to many in this room.  Items 
like the pending petitions for reconsideration in the ESV proceeding; the FiberTower 
petition for rulemaking for two-feet antennas in the 11 GHz band; the long standing 
petition to rechannelize the 18 GHz band; and proposals to adopt a power spectral 
density-based emission limit, as an alternative to existing standards.1
I do not necessarily know how these proceedings and waivers should be decided.  But I do know
that many of them touch on issues like wireless broadband and homeland security. That means 
they should be dealt with as quickly as possible.  Technology in the wireless space moves too 
fast to be delayed by an unnecessarily long deliberation at the FCC.
  
1 Remarks of Jonathan S. Adelstein, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission, before the National 
Spectrum Managers Association, Spectrum Management 2006, Arlington, Virginia (May 16, 2006).