Canadian fixed wireless players lack representation in policy discussions

Future policy discussions on the 2.4 GHz band could be hampered by a lack of representation at the association level from new and small companies. The issue arose just recently when the Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC) tried to get industry feedback on a U.S. decision to open up the unlicensed band in that country to more competition. The implications of this decision on the Canadian market aren’t known, primarily because the RABC is having difficulty getting all the players involved to the table. At a meeting two weeks ago, the RABC made note of the decision by the Federal Communications Commission, but did not discuss it at length, says Ted Campbell, executive director at the RABC. While he doesn’t believe that the August 31 FCC ruling affects any of its fixed wireless members, he admits that not all of the concerned players are getting their voices heard. "This is a bit worrisome," he says, adding that both the executive and the government are asking questions as to why these new companies aren’t at the RABC table making their particular requirements known. Canadian companies like Wi-LAN Inc and WaveRider Communications Inc could face increased competition from players using competing technology. They could also suffer the effects of network interference or congestion as a result of the decision. Up to now, wireless LAN’s have been primarily served by direct sequence spread spectrum technology and the FCC ruling enables competing HomeRF technology to reach comparable speeds. He says that several companies have approached the RABC asking to join, but since it only accepts membership from associations, like the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), those firms have been told to join an association. "For a whole bunch of reasons, and I’m not quite sure what they are, some companies, especially some of the newer ones are very reluctant to join up (to an association)," he told Report on Wireless. "Maybe they’re looking to form their own association, but we certainly aren’t seeing them in the member associations, and that means at the moment, their voice isn’t being heard." CWTA membership limited to licensed companiesThe CWTA, for its part, doesn’t represent service providers that operate in the licence-exempt bands. According to its rules, "regular members are companies licensed by the Minister of Industry Canada pursuant to the Radiocommunication Act …" That means only operators that hold spectrum licences granted by Industry Canada can become regular members of the wireless lobby group. Campbell summarizes the issue by saying the government depends on the RABC for good advice, and the RABC depends on the input from all players – through member associations – to formulate good advice for the government. "So we’re in a bit of a chicken and an egg thing right now. From my point of view as the RABC’s only bureaucrat, it’s frustrating," he says.

Canadian fixed wireless players lack representation in policy discussions

News | September 18, 2000

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