Electronic Media

Published: 12-04-95



AUCTIONS TO PUT USEFUL NEW SPECTRUM OUT OF REACH    



Byline: Joe Fedele 



 This August the FCC reallocated 25  MHz of band space from

government-controlled spectrum and established the General

Wireless Communications Service.

 The GWCS is a new service whose spectrum extends from 4660 MHz

to 4685 MHz and may be licensed for a variety of services that

include fixed and mobile two-way or microwave communications.

 GWCS service areas will be established and are based on

economic areas developed by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a

branch of the Department of Commerce.

 This band will be open to most public, private and commercial

users of spectrum including Broadcast Auxiliary Services.

 BAS frequencies are used by all broadcast stations for their

walkie-talkies, ENG and fixed microwave systems.

 This would mark the first time in many years that the Federal

Communications Commission allocated a clear span of band space

that broadcasters could utilize for their news operations.

 Use of this spectrum by broadcasters could go a long way in

alleviating the frequency congestion problems stations face in

most major markets.

 If fixed STL microwave links were to be relocated to this band,

for instance, this would free spectrum in the ENG bands. And

establishing new GWCS ENG channels for stations to migrate into

would also help reduce interference on local 2 GHz frequencies.

 Because the service areas are well defined, this band might be

an ideal place to relocate IFB and other two-way communications

channels from the overly congested 450 MHz band.

 These licenses will be issued on a  10-year basis and are

subject to the usual technical and environmental restrictions

such as RF radiation hazards and coverage limitations.

 The rules mandate a construction and operations period for the

use of the spectrum. Such rules prevent licensees from obtaining

the band space then letting them lie dormant for extended

periods of time and thereby depriving others of the use of this

resource.

 Upon first reading about the GWCS, I was encouraged.

  But my glee turned to disgust when I continued to read through

the docket.

 I am saddened to report that the FCC is engaged in yet another

round of public auctions whose funds are earmarked to cut the

federal debt.

 It seems as though the FCC is changing from a public servant

and protector of the airwaves to a profit center and deficit

balancing tool of Congress.

 The agency has negated the useful spectrum by making it

virtually unavailable because of the auction idea.

 The greater part of the docket consisted of language regarding

the auctioning of the new spectrum, such as auction regulations,

simultaneous multiple-round competitive bidding requirements,

payment restrictions and information on interest charged by the

government at a rate of 2.5 percent over the Treasury index for

installment payments.

 The new regulations would even include penalties to be imposed

on ``bidders who withdraw high bids during the course of an

auction, or who default on payments due after an auction closes

or who are disqualified.''

  This onslaught of overpriced regulatory fees and high-handed

bidding procedures is merely a substitute for the levying of new

taxes and the imposition of prudent budget-cutting legislation.

 Our gutless representatives in Congress are once again looking

for new ways to hide their plunder while avoiding the scrutiny

of the U.S.  electorate and the backlash that might come from

unpopular legislation.