STATEMENT OF 
COMMISSIONER AJIT PAI
Re: Amendment of Part 27 of the Commission’s Rules to Govern the Operation of Wireless 
Communications Services in the 2.3 GHz Band; Establishment of Rules and 
Policies for the Digital Audio Radio Satellite Service in the 2310-2360 MHz Frequency 
Band, Order on Reconsideration, WT Docket No. 07-293 and IB Docket No. 95-91 
In the wireless world, getting along with neighbors can take effort—sometimes, a lot of effort—
but there are enormous benefits to forging a successful relationship with the licensees next door.
This is especially true in the 21st century mobile economy.  Demand for mobile broadband is 
skyrocketing.  Wireless service providers are strapped for spectrum.  And more neighbors are crowding 
into less-than-ideal spectrum saddled with legacy band plans.  All of this is leading to challenges, not the 
least of which is interference.  Technological advances can help resolve these concerns, but good old-
fashioned negotiation and cooperation is also vital.  Although federal regulations serve as an important 
backstop for mitigating interference, we can and should encourage voluntary resolution of concerns about 
interference and make sure our regulations do not inadvertently impede licensees from making the best 
use of spectrum.
Such is the case with the Wireless Communications Service (WCS) spectrum.  This spectrum has 
been woefully underused since 1997 mainly because operating a terrestrial network in this band could 
disrupt reception to satellite radio customers in neighboring bands.  Even two years after we amended our 
regulations in an attempt to facilitate mobile broadband service in the WCS spectrum, it largely has 
remained fallow.  This is why I proposed in July that the Commission act on pending petitions for
reconsideration in order to get this spectrum fully integrated into the commercial marketplace.
What has broken the logjam at long last is a private, mutually beneficial agreement reached this 
summer between the largest WCS licensee, AT&T, and the SDARS licensee, SiriusXM.  Today’s order 
generally memorializes that agreement in Part 27 of the Commission’s rules, enabling WCS licensees to 
put to use 20 MHz for nationwide 4G LTE deployment and an additional 10 MHz for fixed wireless 
broadband, with the potential to use this spectrum for mobile downlink in the future.  These regulatory 
modifications also will protect adjacent satellite radio services, aeronautical mobile telemetry, and deep 
space network services from harmful interference.  Put simply, today’s order is a win for consumers, a 
pathway for future wireless innovation, and an invaluable step toward meeting the Commission’s 
spectrum goals.
Of course, there is no rest for the weary; several secondary market transactions involving WCS 
spectrum remain pending.  Now we have to take action on these applications so that we can realize the 
full promise of the WCS band.  I hope we can resolve these matters by Thanksgiving so that this spectrum 
can begin serving the needs of our mobile economy as soon as possible.
I would like to thank our expert staff for helping to shepherd this agreement and implementing all 
of the technical details.  In particular, I would like to commend Julie Knapp, Ron Repasi, and Patrick 
Forster of the Office of Engineering Technology; Mindel de la Torre, Gardner Foster, Robert Nelson, and 
Stephen Duall of the International Bureau; and Ruth Milkman, John Leibovitz, and Linda Chang of the 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.  Your hard work and perseverance on this important item is much 
appreciated.