Rural carriers back proposed spectrum rules changes

The Rural Telecommunications Group today announced it would support changes proposed by the FCC to its rules governing the use of wireless spectrum in rural areas. A notice of proposed rulemaking issued by the FCC this week suggested several policy shifts designed to speed deployment of spectrum-based services to rural areas. Among the proposals is the re-auction of unused spectrum, as well as the revamping of current rules to allow service providers to use spectrum for backhaul purposes and to allow rural carriers to increase power level flexibility to provide more economically efficient service to customers in remote areas, said the RTG.