Wireless Systems and 3G in the United States Sydney, Australia March 19, 2001 Jack Deasy Chief, Multilateral & Development Branch Telecommunications Division, International Bureau U.S. Federal Communications Commission
Spectrum Management Goals Maximize efficient use of radio spectrum Promote competition Expand access Protect and promote the public interest Ensure ability of operators to adapt to new technologies, new services and new market needs
Goal Implementation Using auctions to assign licenses Allowing for flexible uses operators should be allowed to evolve to more advanced services Technological Neutrality multiple, competing technologies are allowed Minimizing rules to eliminate harmful interference to encourage interconnection to promote open interface standards
ITU Identifications and U.S. Spectrum Use Near 2 GHz
U.S. Cellular/PCS Subscribers and Penetration (1984-Future)
Services and Spectrum
Services and Spectrum (cont.) MHz military MHz high-speed fixed wireless Multichannel Multipoint Distribution System (MDS) Instructional Fixed Television Service (ITFS) former one-way multi-channel video programming providers prepare to launch two- way wireless broadband services
U.S. Goals for WRC-2000 Identify more than one band pair for IMT countries have different needs for mobile spectrum Allow nations to choose among bands that are appropriate for IMT-2000 use mandatory harmonization stifles competition and development Adopt technologically-neutral band allocation
Results of WRC-2000 WRC-2000 adopted an equitable, multi- band, technologically neutral approach for IMT-2000 Bands Identified for IMT-2000: MHz (WRC-00, FN S5.XXX ) MHz and MHz (WARC-92, FN S5.388) MHz and MHz (WRC-00, FN S5.AAA)
2G Licensees Evolve Into 3G Providers Incumbent services have regulatory flexibility to allow them to evolve to advanced services, such as IMT-2000 Granting regulatory flexibility may not be sufficient to respond to anticipated demand
IMT-2000 and US 3G Options MHz
Potential New 3G Allocations 700 MHz Band auction planned for 2001 FCC NPRM (Jan 2001) (auction by 2002) (NTIA studying) (existing fixed and mobile services) (FCC studying; MMDS)
Additional 3G Allocations October 2000 Presidential Memorandum directed Dept. of Commerce to work with FCC to develop a plan to select additional 3G spectrum required Dept. of Commerce report on current uses and potential for relocation or sharing of MHz band urged FCC report by November 15, 2000, on current uses and potential relocation or sharing of MHz band
Additional 3G Allocations (cont.) Major Issues existing uses (government and commercial) relocation issues international developments
New Allocations Timeline FCC NPRM on Additional 3G Spectrum Allocation issued Jan. 4, 2001 FCC Report and Order on Additional 3G Spectrum Allocation by July 2001 FCC Auction of Additional 3G Spectrum by September 2002
Conclusion Following an equitable, regionally coherent and technologically neutral approach for IMT-2000: maximizes efficient use of radio spectrum promotes competition among users allows industry to implement new technologies and new services
Contacts and More Information Jack Deasy, Web pages FCC: FCC Wireless Bureau: FCC 3G Wireless: Dept. of Commerce, NTIA: