Inukshuk Internet confident that band won’t be reassigned for third generation

A view initiated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) earlier this month will determine whether Canadian MCS licensees will be forced to vacate their bands to make room for new third generation services. But if recent comments from the U.S. military are any indication, Inukshuk Internet Inc, SaskTel and existing MCS users on this side of the border may be spared the trouble and expense of moving to new frequencies. FCC JAN. 5 NOTICE OF PRELIMINARY RULEMAKINGProposes to allocate for mobile and fixed services, the 1710-1755 MHz band that was designated for reallocation from the federal government to non-federal government use Seeks comment on providing mobile and fixed service allocations for the 1755-1850 MHz band, if spectrum in the band is made available for non-federal government use Proposes to designate advanced mobile and fixed services use of the 2110-2150 MHz and 2160-2165 MHz bands that are currently used for a variety of fixed and mobile services that were identified for reallocation Seeks comments on various approaches for the 2500-2690 MHz band which is currently used for multichannel multipoint distribution and instructional television fixed services.Canada knew it was facing a potential spectrum conflict last year when the International Telecommunication Union designated 2500 MHz as one of three bands for 3G at the World Radiocommunication Conference in Istanbul. A band currently used by the U.S. military – 1700 MHz – was also identified. Since that time, intense negotiations have been underway to convince the U.S. military and its lobby, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), that it should vacate its spot for 3G. That would ensure MCS users on both sides of the border could stay put. In a Dec. 21 letter to one of Canada’s newest MCS licensees, Industry Canada advised Inukshuk of the possibility that it may have to migrate to another band if the FCC opted for 2500 MHz as a 3G band. "Given this uncertainty, system implementation and learning commitments are deferred until such a time as the department formally advises you of its decision regarding the future of the 2500 MHz band in Canada," it writes. To reassure Inukshuk and the other MCS players that they will have spectrum for new services, Industry Canada created a migration path to the 3500 MHz band. This band is already being used by a few small companies offering high-speed access to the Internet in rural communities across Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC (RoW, Oct 2/00 and Oct 16/00). Dean Proctor, VP regulatory affairs at Inukshuk parent company Microcell Tele-communications Inc, says that while the decision to create a migration plan provides a level of certainty that it didn’t have before, the chances of that happening are slim. "This whole thing is quickly becoming moot," Proctor told Report on Wireless, adding that the movement recently shown by the NTIA is very encouraging. On Jan. 5, the FCC adopted a Notice of Preliminary Rulemaking that indicates a willingness on the part of the U.S. military and the NTIA to part with spectrum in the 1700 MHz band to make room for the introduction of 3G services. The 2500 MHz band is currently used for broadband Internet and learning services in the U.S., as it is in Canada. The proceeding will explore the possibility of introducing new advanced mobile and fixed services in the frequency bands currently used for cellular, PCS and specialized mobile radio. The FCC will also look at five bands in particular for the introduction of 3G services (1710-1755 MHz, 1755-1850 MHz, 2110-2150 MHz, 2160-2165 MHz and 2500-2690 MHz). As well, the review will look at the types of services that will be offered, including technical specifications and spectrum requirements for such services. Details regarding the use of the 2500 MHz and 3G plans for the U.S. will be released on July 31. That was the deadline imposed by former president Bill Clinton in an Executive Order last fall.

Inukshuk Internet confident that band won’t be reassigned for third generation

Broadcast | January 22, 2001

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