The Telecommunications Industry Association filed comments yesterday with the Federal Communications Commission in response to a public notice from the agency's Wireless Broadband Access Task Force seeking comment on a range of issues.
In the comments, the TIA observes that it is important to encourage the deployment of advanced wireless networks that can support converged communications services offering consumers competitive choices of voice, video and data applications. The TIA believes it is vitally important for the FCC to support wireless broadband in its policymaking efforts if it is to meet President Bush's goal of delivering broadband services to every home in America by 2007.
Licensed commercial mobile wireless providers today are rolling out third-generation (3G) services, and WiFi and other unlicensed technologies continue to penetrate the residential, enterprise and public sectors. In the TIA's view, these are two harbingers of the public's desire for the wireless broadband applications of tomorrow. The TIA also believes that the FCC should be mindful of the value of spectrum harmonization and should strive to seek a balance between licensed and unlicensed spectrum when making spectrum available for wireless broadband services.
"TIA applauds the commission's ongoing efforts to increase consumer choice in accessing the Internet," says TIA President Matthew Flanigan. "TIA has long believed that sound spectrum management is critical to the future success of the communications industry. TIA strongly supports FCC consideration of mechanisms and licensing models that allow more use of spectrum for wireless broadband access services."
The TIA is based in Arlington, VA. For more information visit www.tiaonline.org.
