Chamber Gooses FCC to Loosen MSS Rules

By John Eggerton
( Broadcasting & Cable )
published

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has asked the FCC to expedite its release of rules allowing more flexible use of satellite spectrum.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has proposed allowing terrestrial use of satellite spectrum in the 2 Ghz band as a way to promote and expand wireless broadband service and competition.

That would allow Dish Network to launch a mobile broadband network. It sought a waiver of restrictions on satellite spectrum use to do so, but the FCC did not rule on the request, pointing to the wider proceeding on changing the rules for everyone.

The chamber said that the FCC should push its timetable for the more flexible rules for bands currently restricted to mobile satellite service (MSS) from the end of the year to the end of the third quarter.

John Eggerton
John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.