RCR Wireless News' Jeffrey Silva says there's a battle brewing between WiMax vendors and XM Radio.
It all started when XM disclosed to the FCC on October 2nd that 221
of its land-based repeaters are operating above authorized power
levels, and 19 are operating at sites outside the scope of XM's FCC
permit.
"The terrestrial components of satellite radio services operate on
frequencies adjacent to those licensed to wireless broadband licensees
in the 2.3 GHz band, but the FCC has failed to date to craft permanent
rules governing the land-based transmissions of satellite radio
operators," Silva writes. "Instead, the agency issues 'special
temporary authority,' or STA, authorizations to digital satellite
radio service providers. The situation worries wireless broadband
companies that intend to invest millions of dollars in coming years on
WiMAX systems in the 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz bands."
"The revelation by XM certainly supports a full enforcement
investigation before the FCC grants any additional STAs," says Paul
Sinderbrand, outside counsel to the Wireless Communications Association International.
More here from the Washington Post.
