United Telecom Council (UTC) voiced concern about FCC report rele...

United Telecom Council (UTC) voiced concern about FCC report released last week on critical infrastructure spectrum, saying it didn’t recognize extent to which industries such as energy and power didn’t have dedicated spectrum. FCC staff report was congressionally mandated companion to NTIA study released earlier this year that outlined need for more spectrum for critical infrastructure providers in energy, water and railroad sectors, pointing out that urgency of those needs might have changed after Sept. 11. Reports to Congress were required by fiscal 2001 appropriations act that covered Commerce Dept. NTIA report described congestion in many bands that critical infrastructure providers faced and urged FCC to revisit those “critical” spectrum issues. Commission said most comments received on NTIA report said spectrum allocations were needed beyond current ones to meet needs of utilities and other infrastructure providers. “However, only a few commenters specifically quantified their needs,” FCC said. Only few proposed areas where available spectrum could be found. “In fulfilling the statutory obligation to ‘address any needs identified’ by the NTIA report, a difficulty arises for the Commission in that the NTIA report does not independently validate or investigate any specific needs or requirements of the designated industries,” FCC said. Instead, it said, report used information provided by industry commenters as basis for review. FCC cited current spectrum proceedings that it said should have positive impact on spectrum needs of energy, water and railroad industries. Commission cited examples such as 27 MHz reallocated from govt. to nongovt. users, including 216-220 MHz and 1427-1432 MHz. FCC concluded that although NTIA report didn’t validate “specific spectrum requirements” for energy, railroad and water sectors, “the Commission is always sensitive to the communications needs of these and other industries.” Of concerns raised by those sectors on access to spectrum due to congestion and interference, report said: “The designated industries are encouraged to continue to migrate to more efficient technologies and to make use of available commercial spectrum services when practicable, including terrestrial wireless and satellite services, as well as civil satellite services.” It encouraged water, industry and railroad industries to use new ways of sharing and licensing to meet their needs to ensure that efficient use of spectrum was met. “The Commission must satisfy the spectrum needs of many users, and it is especially sensitive to needs involving domestic security concerns,” report said. UTC said Fri. it was concerned FCC didn’t cite “concrete plans” to meet emergency response requirements or help protect energy, water or transportation structure. NTIA study included estimates by critical infrastructure providers that they would need 6- 10 MHz of dedicated spectrum in next few years. “The Commission’s response to Congress mentions the importance of critical infrastructure and public safety’s spectrum requirements since Sept. 11,” UTC Pres. William Moroney said. “However, in spite of a very small spectrum request, the FCC report concludes that the agency ‘must satisfy the spectrum needs of many users.'” Moroney asked: “How can yet another commercial wireless service, even if one could operate in such a small piece of spectrum, be more important than a single allocation to help protect the nation’s critical infrastructure?”