Dish network AWS-4 Wireless SPectrum approved by 3GPP
3GPP Approves DISH Wireless Spectrum Standards
DISH
calls on FCC to resist Sprint's effort to delay wireless competition,
billions in investment, tens of thousands of U.S. jobs
ENGLEWOOD,
Colo., Nov. 14, 2012 – The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)
working group yesterday approved the technical specifications that
govern 40 MHz of broadband-ready wireless spectrum controlled by DISH
(called Band 23), despite the objections of Sprint Nextel Corporation
over the last 12 months. DISH urges the FCC to do the same.
Without
3GPP approval, wireless companies do not have the required technical
blueprints needed to design and build everything from cellphone chipsets
to broadband networks.
With
3GPP's standards now approved, DISH is poised to enter the wireless
business as rapidly as possible, assuming favorable FCC approval of
rules that will allow DISH to use the spectrum (which is already
approved for satellite and terrestrial service) more efficiently for
terrestrial wireless services for smartphones, tablets and computers.
"We
applaud 3GPP for rightly concluding the Band 23 question," said Jeff
Blum, DISH Senior Vice-President and Deputy General Counsel. "Now we
call on the FCC to reject Sprint's proposals for AWS-4 rules that would
re-open Band 23 and jeopardize DISH's ability bring its spectrum to
market, and provide much needed wireless competition."
Over
the past several months, Sprint, which is in the process of being
acquired by Japanese-controlled wireless carrier Softbank, has
petitioned the FCC to drastically reduce the power levels of DISH's
spectrum to further Sprint's desire to acquire the neighboring H Block
spectrum, which today is essentially a vacant lot with no current
licensees or users.
Sprint's
request would re-open DISH's 3GPP specifications, causing further delay
to a process that DISH started more than 20 months ago – and further
delaying billions of dollars of investment and the creation of tens of
thousands of jobs.
"Sprint's
position on the H Block would render useless 25 percent of DISH's
uplink spectrum -- so that Sprint is positioned to merely gain the exact
same amount of spectrum," said Blum. "This is a zero-sum approach that
does not result in a net spectrum gain for the American consumer and
creates no new jobs.
"Worse
yet, it takes 5 MHz of spectrum out of the hands of a new market
entrant and puts it in the hands of an incumbent that already has more
than 200 MHz of wireless spectrum," said Blum. "This makes no sense at a
time when the nation is enduring a spectrum crunch and would benefit
from more wireless competition.
"Our
nation is in a spectrum crisis; we are running out of the very resource
our wireless economy needs to sustain its incredible growth," said
Blum. "Sprint's plan does not deliver new spectrum nor create U.S. jobs;
it take usable spectrum from a new entrant – DISH -- and conveniently
positions an entrenched incumbent, Sprint, as the beneficiary.
"Sprint,
through its actions at the FCC, is delaying wireless competition,
billions of dollars of investment and tens of thousands of jobs that our
economy needs.
Said
Blum: "DISH's position is consistent with more than 20 years of FCC
precedent. The AWS-4 rulemaking should be completed with the power
levels that were recommended by the FCC in the notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) and supported by all commenters (other than Sprint),
and which would not require DISH to effectively surrender 25 percent of
its uplink capacity. The H Block should be subject to the same auction
and rule making processes that have applied to other spectrum bands for
decades. This approach will ultimately free up the H Block for its
highest-and-best use based upon input from all interested parties, and
will lead to more investment, more jobs, more competition and more
spectrum for wireless consumers."
|
