MMDS/ITFS licensees relieved by FCC ruling

Broadband fixed-wireless licensees in the 2.5-2.7 GHz band are sighing with relief and looking to proceed with plans for high-speed data, video and varying degrees of portable telephony services as a result of an FCC ruling that does not designate the band for 3G telephony services.

While the ruling does allow the spectrum to be used for mobile services, the initial fixed-wireless industry reaction was one of relief that a cloud hanging over the head of continuing wireless deployments had been lifted.

Sprint, in a prepared statement, said it supports the FCC and its “decision to protect incumbents from interference while allowing market forces to determine the feasibility of using this spectrum for additional services.” The fixed-wireless industry’s leading trade group, the Wireless Communications Association, said it “wholeheartedly applauds” the FCC decision.

Any move to use the spectrum for mobile wireless services, as suggested by the FCC, will require rethinking the purpose of broadband fixed wireless delivery, but is not feasible from a technological standpoint, industry observers said.

--Jim Barthold, senior editor