CTIA Spectrum Clearinghouse Announces Launch of New Website
April 11, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC – CTIA-The Wireless Association® announced today that the CTIA Spectrum Clearinghouse stands ready to assist wireless licensees with their cost-sharing needs through the launch of its new website. The website, www.ctiaspectrumclearinghouse.org, equips companies with useful resources and up-to-date information regarding the cost-sharing process. The CTIA Spectrum Clearinghouse enables new and incumbent licensees to equitably distribute the financial burden of relocating 2.1 GHz spectrum users, making it simple for companies to register relocation costs to ensure the capture of all cost sharing possibilities as Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) and Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) licensees build out new advanced wireless networks.
“The CTIA Spectrum Clearinghouse is a one-stop shop for wireless licensees and all of their cost-sharing needs,” said Steve Largent, CTIA-The Wireless Association® President & CEO. “A few key factors that set the CTIA Spectrum Clearinghouse apart from the competition are a stream-lined approach to the process, unwavering commitment to providing a quality service, proactively identifying and addressing the issues with potential users of CTIA’s service and a valuable partnership between two industry leaders – CTIA and Comsearch. Our user-friendly website, www.ctiaspectrumclearinghouse.org, provides a web portal capable of delivering important cost-sharing information to the affected licensees in a timely manner,” continued Largent.
In March 2007, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) formally selected the CTIA Spectrum Clearinghouse as a cost-sharing clearinghouse to support the reimbursement of costs associated with the relocation of Broadband Radio Service (BRS) and Fixed Microwave Service (FS) licensees necessitated by the 2006 AWS auction. In making spectrum available for AWS and MSS, the FCC requires that new 2.1 GHz licensees pay to relocate existing BRS and FS systems operating in the band. New entrants that enter the market after incumbent BRS and FS licensees have been relocated must share the relocation costs by reimbursing the relocator a proportion of the costs that it has already paid. The Clearinghouse is designed and designated to administer fair and equitable cost-sharing functions for the relocation of incumbent licensees from the 2.1 GHz band.
The CTIA Spectrum Clearinghouse contracted with Comsearch, an Andrew Corporation company, a leading provider of wireless engineering services and software, to develop and manage the software system and the day-to-day operations of the Clearinghouse. Headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia, Comsearch provides innovative spectrum management solutions to the global market for fixed, mobile and broadband wireless applications.
“Comsearch is proud to support CTIA in the development and management of the CTIA Spectrum Clearinghouse,” said Chris Hardy, vice president and general manager, Comsearch. “This endeavor continues our strong relationship and combined efforts towards solving today’s wireless spectrum management issues.”
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CTIA is the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry,
representing carriers, manufacturers and wireless Internet providers.
www.ctia.org