While we have a fierce net neutrality debate within the wireless telecom and technology industries, the one thing we all agree on is that America’s appetite for mobile broadband services is increasing at a rapid pace. At CTIA, we like to call it the “virtuous cycle” where the multiple players within our ecosystem (such as a device manufacturer or network provider or app developer) are constantly investing, innovating, and competing in order to keep up with consumer demand. 

But, all of the cool apps, faster speeds, new devices and other innovations from the wireless industry are in jeopardy unless we get more spectrum and improve the tower siting process. 

We’ve heard a lot about the brewing spectrum crisis, but why is tower siting just as important? To expand their service offerings and meet consumer demand for “always-on” broadband, wireless carriers need to be able to build out their networks, which involves constructing new towers or adding new equipment to already existing structures.

Today, there is no timeframe for local zoning authorities to act on tower siting applications. CTIA surveyed our members and found that they collectively had more than 3,300 wireless siting applications pending before local jurisdictions. Of those, approximately nearly a quarter have been in queue for more than a year, and more than 180 such applications have been awaiting final action for more than 3 years. That’s just silly in a country that wants to expand broadband access and put people to work.

To remedy this problem, the industry is asking for a common-sense, reasonable solution that would establish 45 and 75 day “shot clocks” for zoning authorities to act on tower siting applications. You can read our petition with the FCC on the matter here.

During FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s keynote remarks earlier this month at International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009®, he pledged his support and commitment for getting the industry more spectrum and a tower siting shot clock. These are big – and complementary – steps that will help ensure that the U.S. maintains its world leadership in wireless.

Last week, U.S. Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and George Radanovich (R-CA), Co-Chairs of the House Wireless Caucus, sent a letter  to Chairman Genachowski commending his commitment to setting a shot-clock on tower siting and calling on the Commission to act as quickly as possible on this petition. We applaud Representatives Inslee and Radanovich for staking out this pro-broadband, pro-investment, pro-jobs position, and we look forward to working with them and Chairman Genachowksi to get it done.  

There has been a lot of media coverage on the wireless industry recently, but there's a story that few are talking about which is vital for all of us. It's spectrum -- or the backbone of the industry. 

And unless we get more spectrum, we are facing a crisis. All of the apps, speed, devices and other innovations from the wireless industry are in jeopardy unless we get more spectrum. 

But what is spectrum? It's defined simply as frequencies that are designated for specific uses, such as personal communications services and public safety.

A few weeks ago, GigaOM's Stacey Higginbotham wrote a great story outlining the issue and what's at stake. We also developed a very simple graphic that clearly shows the integral role spectrum plays in wireless -- we call it the "virtuous cycle."

What this diagram shows is that as long as more spectrum is available, the industry will continue to invest in networks to handle more capacity, device manufacturers will continue to develop new capabilities for handsets and content developers will continue to create new apps and content – which ultimately benefits the consumers who continue to want and expect more from their mobile devices. This is a cycle that never ends, BUT only if spectrum is made available.

So what is the industry asking? We are asking for:

1. Congress to pass the bipartisan Senate (S. 649) and House (HR 3125) Radio Spectrum
     Inventory Act which would tell us who's using what and where there's spectrum available.

2.  Tower siting policy which would establish a "shot clock" -- 45 days for collocation (meaning
      where towers already exist) and 75 days for other facilities -- for zoning authorities to respond to
      applications. Right now, there is no "shot clock." 

• Towers are vital to the industry to expand coverage for consumers. 
• Of the 3,300 tower and antenna applications pending in the spring of 2008 for 7 wireless carriers, 760 were pending for more than 1 year.
• 180 were pending for more than 3 years.
• 135 of the 180 applications pending for more than 3 years are collocation applications where towers have already been approved.

Unless the U.S. gets more spectrum, there will not be enough bandwidth to continue to provide the apps, speed, devices and other innovations from the wireless industry that we all enjoy and have come to expect.

Communication during a natural disaster is critically important, a fact that is reinforced in emergency situations. As 4th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina passed late last month, CTIA marks the occasion withthis look at how service providers place a high priority in keeping their networks up and running in challenged times. To learn more watch this segment from our September installment of our Wonder of Wireless webcast, and take a few moments to see what else we have to offer in our September WOW.

So, you're a wireless service provider and you want to improve and extend coverage in a service area. To do that, you need to construct a new tower, and with that comes a litany of paperwork, zoning hearings, and various licensing requirements that requires a multitude of legal diligence, perseverance, and patience.... not always in equal parts. It can be an enormously frustrating and tedious process for a carrier, that is often stymied by various zoning entities... county, city, etc., which have mastered the 'delay game'. 
  
How so? Well, there are about 3,300 pending siting applications, and according to a survey CTIA conducted of some of its membership, and about 25% of the applications have been awaiting a decision for more than a year.  And in that group, more than 180 applications have been awaiting final action for more than 3 years. That's right, three years for a simple thumbs up, or thumbs down to better coverage for wireless consumers. I know there are many considerations that go into the process, but certainly there has to be a better way.
 
And there is. The industry is seeking is a common-sense, reasonable solution – it shouldn’t take more than three years to reach a siting decision.  The industry supports 45 and 75 day “shot clocks” for siting consideration decisions.  We’ve filed a petition with the FCC on the matter, which you can read here.

The FCC is considering the petition, and we believe the proposed timeframe is ample for thorough review of applications and final decisions. There's just no good rationale for needing longer than two-and-a-half months to decide whether a service provider can move forward with its plans, as wireless service providers are sinking billions of dollars into their networks to provide upgraded services to consumers who clearly want more. Wireless data growth is impressive and Americans are increasingly turning to wireless as their preferred new path to the internet.  There’s no debate about the growing reliance and use of wireless service and it's only fair to the millions of consumers who want more that common-sense siting policies should be enacted.  

So, you think you know your FCC Section 106, do you? Ok, tell me this--- When does a carrier's or tower owner's Section 106 issue become a Section 110(k) problem? Well? Not so easy, huh? Maybe all you need is a little brushing up on the tower rules, since it’s been four years since the commission implemented the National Programmatic Agreement. That’s why CTIA thought the the time was right for a  tutorial on the ins and outs of tower siting, and put together this week’s Section 106 Refresher Course at the CTIA offices. 

The day-and-a-half program hosted last Thursday and Friday, and focused on making Section 106 as efficient as possible while preserving historic sites around the country. As the number of US wireless subscribers continues to grow and the demand for services increases,  there’s never been a greater need for superior coverage. Tower siting is obviously a central piece of that puzzle, and the role consultants play in the process is vital. That was a point of emphasis during the session, as attendees were also reminded of the varied levels of consultants’ training and expertise, and the key part they play in Section 106 implementation.

I think the beauty of the standing-room only sessions was the participation of the primary stakeholders: government, tribal, and industry representatives collaborated on presenting information integral to understanding the process and making it work as well as possible. Attendees were reminded of the crucial interaction between tower owners, consultants, SHPOs, THPOs, the FCC, and the AHCP, and were able to test drive the FCC’s new electronic Section 106 system. The information is extremely useful for those on the front line of tower siting, as they received practical guidance and advice on how to work within the system, while making the system work for them. 

Those were just some of the highlights, and we believe this session was a valuable step toward extending coverage, and reinforces the need for all of the stakeholders to communicate so that nearly 260 million US wireless subscribers can do the same.  Oh… that question about the Section 110 (k) problem… well, that happens when one of the stakeholders, i.e., SHPO/THPO, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), a potentially affected Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian Organization, or member of the public files a Section 110(k) petition with the FCC against the Applicant. But, of course, you knew that already.

I know it's happened to me before, and it's probably happened to you, too. You're talking just fine on your cell until you get inside an office building or a high-rise of some type, possibly riding up in an elevator, and there goes the signal. There's no doubt coverage is better these days than it used to be. Wireless carriers have added more than 30,000 new towers and cell sites in just the last two years alone. However, this is still physics we're dealing with here, and there are still trouble spots. The New York Times recently ran a story that focused on a new technology called femtocells that at least one carrier is currently deploying to improve coverage in small areas, such as your home. The article went on to mention the use of cell phone repeaters, or boosters, as another possible remedy, saying..

"The presence of boosters on frequencies that belong to the carriers has made them somewhat controversial. The Federal Communications Commission certifies the devices for some purposes, but they recommend contacting your carrier before installing one.

If a person is interested in improving coverage with a booster, “we would encourage that person to first work with his or her wireless carrier to identify a certified device that the carrier also approves of before installing it and using it on the network,” said Robert Kenny, a spokesman for the F.C.C."
  
It's not only important for someone interested in installing a booster to contact their carrier, it's actually against federal law to do so without your carrier's permission. The Telecommunications Act clearly states that a licensee must approve use of any transmitter in its spectrum, and the reason for that is clear. Improperly installed, a booster might do wonders for your coverage, but wreak absolute havoc with your neighbors'. That could disrupt such important transmissions as emergency calls to 911, and that's one of the primary reasons why protecting the integrity of the network, everyone's network, is important. Using repeaters or boosters on frequencies licensed by the government, without your carriers' consent, means you are violating the terms of the license.  So before you take matters into your own hands, make sure you're not doing it at someone else's expense.