Howard Buskirk

T-Mobile, Western Wireless and Dobson called on the FCC to ask detailed questions about the Intercarrier Compensation Forum (ICF) plan before circulating a proposal to fix the intercarrier compensation regime. Wireless carrier sources said they expect pressure to grow in coming weeks as the FCC nears circulation of an order on the issue. The Wireline Bureau has predicted a vote on an intercarrier compensation item in mid-2005.

The FCC is poised to approve an order as early as this week delaying a Jan. 1 mandate for requiring that some radios be narrowband-ready, and making other changes to dates for narrowband rules. The FCC also appears on target to vote out an order sua sponte -- on its own initiative -- by tonight (Wed.) addressing Nextel’s request for changes to the FCC’s Aug. 800 MHz rebanding order.

Independent wireless carriers told the FCC the Commission should overrule LEC objections and order changes recommended by the N. American Numbering Council (NANC) that would reduce the intermodal porting interval to 53 hours from 96. LECs have argued that the changes aren’t justified by the interest in intermodal porting and are premature, but wireless carriers said a shortened interval will lead to more customers “cutting the cord” and to greater competition.

President Bush announced a new policy Wed. to shut down the country’s global positioning system (GPS) satellites temporarily during national crises to thwart terrorists’ efforts to use the navigational technology. Sources said Thurs. any shutdown of GPS would cripple systems in virtually every aspect of American life, including telecom, cable and broadcasting.

The FCC approved a hotly contested order to establish an auction that would “let the market” decide whether the air-to-ground (ATG) market will consist of an exclusive or overlapping licenses to offer broadband on commercial airliners. The Commission also launched an investigation of rules governing the use of wireless phones on airliners.

A “sua sponte” order, addressing changes to the FCC’s 800 MHz rebanding order sought by Nextel, has started to circulate, we've learned. Sources said the order, initiated by the Commission, addresses the key “decisional” issues raised by Nextel in its objections to the order and will likely result in Nextel having to pay hundreds of millions of dollars less than originally projected.

The merger of Sprint and Nextel -- expected to be announced as early as today (Wed.) in N.Y. -- likely faces few regulatory hurdles. Nonetheless, questions remain about competition in individual markets, the future of 3G competition and the 2 companies’ significant combined stake in MMDS spectrum, among other issues.

Last week’s ITU Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) in Geneva provided international support for greater use worldwide of “unlicensed” spectrum such as Wi-Fi -- a spectrum concept that is increasingly significant in U.S. regulation, officials said. The regulators also endorsed technological neutrality for the Internet, with neither wireline nor wireless receiving an advantage.

Judges peppered both sides with questions Fri. without a clear likely winner as the FCC faced off against the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) and the Diocese of Savannah in oral arguments before the Court of Appeals, D.C., over a much-watched ITFS case. Also Fri., a rulemaking on the new ITFS-MMDS regulations approved last summer appeared in the Federal Register setting up a Jan. filing deadline.

Wireless carriers told the FCC that if it proceeds with an auction of H and J block PCS spectrum, proper controls must be in place to protect other spectrum incumbents. Carriers spelled out the levels of controls they believe are necessary in filings at the FCC in response to a proposed rulemaking on auction service rules.