FCC Chmn. Powell said at Wed. agenda meeting that Commission ‘rel...

FCC Chmn. Powell said at Wed. agenda meeting that Commission “reluctantly” withdrew scheduled vote on ultra- wideband (UWB) policy in deference to request for more time from Commerce Secy. Donald Evans, with understanding that steps would be taken to put item on Feb. agenda. Powell said agenda items “rarely” were withdrawn. FCC took order off agenda late Tues. Evans had told Powell late last month that 60 additional days are needed to complete final analysis to ensure protection of critical govt. operations and safety-of- life services. Deputy Assistant Commerce Secy. Michael Gallagher told us he was “hopefully optimistic” that unified govt. position and agreement between FCC and NTIA could be reached in time for Feb. 14 agenda meeting. “What happens next is very important,” Gallagher said. “We have a limited amount of time.” NTIA has stepped up pace of meetings it has been holding with FCC and other federal agencies on issues related to UWB, he said. In last few weeks, there has been movement on some issues, but he declined to elaborate on specific areas of progress. Gallagher, who joined NTIA in early Nov., is heading up UWB policy issues because NTIA Administrator Nancy Victory is recused from those issues. “We need to go system by system through the affected government systems, that’s the trigger point,” Gallagher said. Commerce Dept. decided to ask for additional 60 days to balance needs of federal agencies that had stake in proceeding against critical timelines faced by UWB industry. “There were a number of agencies and outside parties calling for a further notice,” Gallagher said. Instead, Commerce Dept. ultimately asked for another 2 months as time frame that was “realistic and doable and doesn’t cause this industry to fail simply because the government was unable to act,” Gallagher said. Separately, United Airlines, which has raised concerns about potential interference that UWB systems might pose for GPS, lauded move by FCC to take more time. “The FCC does not manage, nor are they responsible for, the National Airspace System,” airline said: “This is the purview of the FAA and DoT. FCC actions should not, therefore, adversely impact airline operations or put passengers at risk.” Company said introduction of UWB devices into aviation safety-of-life bands would “erode public safety” and “compromise international protections” given to these frequencies. XtremeSpectrum CEO Martin Rofheart said that while company was “disappointed” with delay, “we are not surprised, as the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 have placed extraordinarily high demands on our government and continue to do so in this unprecedented time in our nation’s history.” Rofheart said he was “confident” that FCC would issue rules within 60 days.