The following contains some dates that might be worth keeping in mind for the U.S. wireless market:
Memorandum From The President For The Heads Of
Executive Departments and Agencies: Advanced
Mobile Communications/Third Generation Wireless
Systems
October 16, 2000
WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 /U.S. Newswire/ via NewsEdge
Corporation - The following was released today by the
White House
(I deleted several paragraphs that describe the development of first and second generation wireless systems)
In the United States, Federal Government agencies and
the private sector must work together to determine what
spectrum could be made available for third generation
wireless systems.
Accordingly, I am hereby directing you, and strongly
encouraging independent agencies, to be guided by the
following principles in any future actions they take
related to development of third generation wireless
systems:
-- Third generation wireless systems need radio
frequency spectrum on which to operate. Executive
departments and agencies and the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) must cooperate with
industry to identify spectrum that can be used by third
generation wireless systems, whether by reallocation,
sharing, or evolution of existing systems, by July 2001;
-- Incumbent users of spectrum identified for reallocation
or sharing must be treated equitably, taking national
security and public safety into account;
-- The Federal Government must remain
technology-neutral, not favoring one technology or
system over another, in its spectrum allocation and
licensing decisions;
-- The Federal Government must support policies that
encourage competition in services and that provide
flexibility in spectrum allocations to encourage
competition; and
-- The Federal Government must support industry efforts
as far as practicable and based on market demand and
national considerations, including national security and
international treaty obligations, to harmonize spectrum
allocations regionally and internationally.
I also direct the relevant agencies as follows:
1. I direct the Secretary of Commerce to work
cooperatively with the FCC, as the agencies within the
Federal Government with shared responsibility and
jurisdiction for management of the radio frequency
spectrum, to develop, by October 20, 2000, a plan to
select spectrum for third generation wireless systems,
and to issue, by November 15, 2000, an interim report
on the current spectrum uses and potential for
reallocation or sharing of the bands identified at
WRC-2000 that could be used for third generation
wireless systems, in order that the FCC can identify, in
coordination with the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration, spectrum by July 2001, and
auction licenses to competing applicants by September
30, 2002.
2. I also direct the Secretary of Commerce to work
cooperatively with the FCC to lead a
government-industry effort, through a series of regular
public meetings or workshops, to work cooperatively
with government and industry representatives, and
others in the private sector, to develop
recommendations and plans for identifying spectrum for
third generation wireless systems consistent with the
WRC-2000 agreements, which may be implemented by
the Federal Government.
3. I direct the Secretaries of Defense, the Treasury,
Transportation, and the heads of any other executive
department or agency that is currently authorized to use
spectrum identified at WRC-2000 for third generation
wireless services, to participate and cooperate in the
activities of the government-industry group.
4. I direct the Secretary of State to participate and
cooperate in the activities of the government-industry
group, and to coordinate and present the evolving views
of the United States Government to foreign governments
and international bodies.
Furthermore, I strongly encourage the FCC to participate
in the government-industry outreach efforts and to
initiate a rule-making proceeding to identify spectrum for
third generation wireless services that will be
coordinated with the Assistant Secretary of Commerce
for Communications and Information during the
formulation and decision making process with the goal of
completing that process by July 2001, so that such
spectrum can be auctioned to competing applicants for
licenses by September 30, 2002.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON |
