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NSMA Spectrum Management Association Roundtable Tuesday, May 21, 2002 Jill M. Lyon Vice President & General Counsel. UTC – Background. Founded in 1948
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NSMA Spectrum Management Association Roundtable Tuesday, May 21, 2002 Jill M. Lyon Vice President & General Counsel
UTC – Background • Founded in 1948 • International trade association representing the telecommunications interests of electrical and gas utilities, water systems, gas pipelines and other critical infrastructure entities, and their technology partners. • Chair of Critical Infrastructure Communications Coalition, group of affiliated CI associations formed 1999 to provide unified voice on telecom issues
Spectrum Issues • Spectrum Management – participating in managing and protecting existing PLMR resources • Spectrum Allocation – seeking moderate allocation for CI protection and growth
Spectrum Management • Managing existing PLMR allocations • UTC is a long-time frequency coordinator: through LMCC membership, participating in consensus policies of frequency coordinators in shared 150-512 MHz, 800/900 MHz PLMR frequency bands • Sample issue: need for greater protection of data systems on 150-512 MHz bands – many utilities rely on lower bands for mission-critical telemetry
Spectrum Management • Protection of existing resources • 800 MHz Interference proceeding – UTC favors solution without mandatory re-banding • -- Technical solutions are/will be key regardless of re-banding: Rules MUST require interfering licensee to resolve interference within reasonable timeframe; • -- Existing eligibility restrictions outdated – flexibility needed to permit market-based solutions such as channel-swapping, self-correction of band; • -- Reality of 800 MHz band is varying technologies with gradual migration to digital, advanced equipment – Rules should focus on technology, not class of user, to enable shared systems (such as CI and Public Safety, now common) and encourage expensive upgrades • UTC also supports FWCC efforts to protect microwave bands necessary to CI systems
Spectrum Allocation • Unlike traditional Public Safety, CI mission-critical communications have no exclusive spectrum. Also, private wireless as a group has received no allocation since 1985. • NTIA CI Spectrum Use Study (1/31/02) notes need for spectrum, suggests FCC revisit issues to help protect CI. • Issues include interoperability, among CI entities who often must communicate in emergencies, and between CI and Public Safety personnel.
More information and copies of filings available from UTC website:www.utc.org Contact Info: 202-833-6808 Jill.lyon@utc.org Thank you!