445 12th St., SW
Washington, D.C. 20554
Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 202/418-2555
FCC ANNOUCES PUBLIC FORUM
ON SECONDARY MARKETS IN RADIO SPECTRUM
Released: April 13, 2000
On February 28, 2000, FCC Chairman William Kennard announced in a speech to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association his intention to convene a forum on issues related to secondary markets in spectrum. He stated his desire that the FCC have "rules and policies that allow a secondary market in spectrum so that it flows as freely in the marketplace as any commodity."
Explosive growth in wireless communications has created tremendous demand for scarce spectrum resources. As part of the FCC's core spectrum management responsibilities, we seek to increase the efficiency of spectrum use and to make more spectrum available for use. Secondary markets may facilitate greater utilization of spectrum. Spectrum licensees may be able to make capacity available for use on a temporary basis to meet demand.
The FCC invites interested members of the public to notify us of their interest in attending and/or making in-person presentations at the forum. The Commission is particularly interested in receiving views:
- from entities believing that spectrum constraints inhibiting the deployment of new
services or expansion of current services could be mitigated through a secondary
market in spectrum;
- from entities interested in making capacity available on idle spectrum assets;
- from entities with knowledge or experience on negotiating deals for the provision
of spectrum on a spot or short-term basis;
- on the financial, legal, economic and any other factors affecting the success of
secondary markets in other products or services, as well as what would make a
secondary market in spectrum similar or different from such other markets;
- from individuals who will comment in a comprehensive and balanced fashion on
Commission rules and policies that should be retained, modified or eliminated to
create incentives or remove disincentives to the formation of secondary markets
in spectrum; and
- on proposals for what the Commission should do, beyond the subject of its current rules and policies, to facilitate a secondary market in spectrum.
We invite interested members of the public to participate in this forum. The forum will be open to the public, and seating will be available on a first come, first served basis. All interested persons are invited to attend.
Persons interested in making a presentation at the forum should send their name, title and affiliation, phone number, biography, and an explanation of how their remarks would address the six factors listed above in writing to: Robert Calaff, Office of Engineering & Technology, Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth St, SW, Room 7-C222, Washington, DC 20554. This information should be received no later than Friday, April 28, 2000.
The Commission will evaluate proposals to make presentations and construct panels around the key topics cited above. Specific questions to be addressed during presentations will be provided to selected presenters in advance of the forum. A second public notice will be issued prior to the forum providing additional details, including panels and speakers. Details regarding captioning, Internet broadcast, and transcript availability will also be included.
For additional information contact: Robert Calaff, Office of Engineering & Technology, 202-418-7293, TTY 202-418-1169 or rcalaff@fcc.gov, or Lisa Gaisford, Office of Engineering and Technology, 202-418-7280, TTY 202-418-1169 or lgaisfor@fcc.gov. News media contact: Meribeth McCarrick, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 202-418-0654, TTY 202-418-7233 or mmccarri@fcc.gov.