STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER ROBERT M. McDOWELL RE: Amendment of the Commission’s Rules with Regard to Commercial Operations in the 3550- 3650 MHz Band, GN Docket No. 12-354 I am pleased that we are taking steps today to explore the possibility of introducing commercial operations in a heavily encumbered but potentially useful spectrum band. The 3550- 3650 MHz band is currently used for military and satellite operations and its scope covers about 60 percent of the U.S. population. Nonetheless, we seek to learn whether newer, more agile technologies and spectrum sharing protocols could potentially free up the unencumbered portions of this band for non-governmental uses, including commercial mobile broadband services. Specifically, we propose a three-tiered “Citizens Broadband Service,” managed by a spectrum access system that would include a dynamic database and potentially other interference mitigation techniques. Although I do not necessarily agree with all of the findings of the recent report issued by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, I nonetheless support the undertaking we launch today. Just as with our efforts to introduce unlicensed low- powered commercial services in the TV white spaces, a project that I have ardently supported since arrival at the Commission, I am hopeful that this experiment in the 3.5 GHz range will promote additional investment and innovation that could be useful to consumers in other bands. Our decision to ensure development of a comprehensive record through additional notices, analyses or white papers, prior to releasing final draft rules is consistent with this educational approach. I thank the staff of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Office of Engineering and Technology for your thoughtful work.