D.C. Memo: NCTA Fights Spectrum-Sharing Plan Supported by AT&T

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Airwaves:  NCTA – The Internet & Television Association Tuesday stepped into a major spectrum battle that involves control of airwaves reportedly valued at $14.3 billion. The trade group for big cable broadband ISPs said it opposed a plan by the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance’s (PSSA) that would likely result in AT&T gaining access to 50 MHz in the 4.9 GHz band on a secondary basis with FCC approval. "NCTA supports FCC efforts to advance spectrum sharing between commercial and non-commercial services. But what PSSA proposes is not spectrum sharing; rather, PSSA asks the FCC to bypass any competitive assignment process and gift commercial use of the band to a single company," NCTA said in an FCC filing.  AT&T was quick with a response. "Contrary to today’s cable filing, we support public safety and join major public safety groups – including the Fraternal Order of Police, International Association of Fire Fighters, and International Association of Chiefs of Police, among many others – in supporting FCC action to preserve this spectrum for public safety and meet the critical and evolving future communication needs of first responders," an AT&T spokesperson said. Last week, Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg met with FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to oppose the PSSA plan. At a hearing Tuesday on Capitol Hill, Rosenworcel indicated that the agency was months away from a decision. NCTA said if commercial use of the 50 MHz is realistic, the spectrum should be auctioned. "An approach that hands a dominant incumbent wireless provider an additional $14.3 billion in spectrum rights would only further distort an already skewed commercial spectrum environment," NCTA said.