STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER ROBERT M. McDOWELL
Re: Amendment of Part 101 of the Commission’s Rules to Facilitate the Use of Microwave for 
Wireless Backhaul and Other Uses and to Provide Additional Flexibility to Broadcast Auxiliary 
Service and Operational Fixed Microwave Licensees, Petition for Rulemaking filed by Fixed 
Wireless Communications Coalition to Amend Part 101 of the Commission's Rules to Authorize 
60 and 80 MHz Channels in Certain Bands for Broadband Communications, WT Docket No. 10-
153, RM-11602
Most consumers are unaware that their calls, texts and emails could not function without 
invisible, but critical “backhaul” components.  Today, by partially getting out of the way to foster a 
healthier environment for the creation of cost efficiencies for the entities that build and operate networks, 
the Commission is taking another step to spur the construction of advanced broadband networks in both 
urban and rural areas.  For instance, adopting more flexible rules that allow for the use of smaller 
antennas reduces the construction cost by over $2000 for a single communications link.  I am hopeful that 
wholesale and retail consumers alike will benefit from these savings.
 
Given their importance, I am pleased to approve our actions and I thank Chairman Genachowski 
for identifying and bringing to a vote this rule modernization.  In addition to allowing the market to 
reclaim its freedom to build at lower cost, employing smaller antennas and making use of wider channels 
will permit creation of higher capacity links, which will be especially helpful to efforts to connect rural 
America to state-of-the-art broadband services.  Likewise, we are updating our efficiency standards to 
incorporate a more practical approach for providers serving rural areas, which we hope will also boost 
cost savings and create greater economies of scale.
 
I look forward to learning about additional opportunities to pare back even more long-standing 
and outdated regulations through the notice of proposed rulemaking and notice of inquiry.  Thank you to 
all of the interested parties that have informed our analysis.  I also thank our talented and creative 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau folks again, especially the unsung engineers, for your work in this 
area.