WISPA Asks FCC To Reconsider Progeny Decision
Bluffton, IN (PRWEB) July 10, 2013 -- The Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA), a membership organization that promotes the development, advancement and unity of the wireless Internet Service Provider industry, filed a petition this week with the FCC asking the agency to overturn its decision allowing Progeny LMS, LLC to begin commercial operations in the 900 MHz band. The petition asserts that the FCC misinterpreted the law and misstated pertinent facts in permitting introduction of a potential source of interference into a spectrum band used by millions of unlicensed broadband, consumer and industrial devices and applications every day.
WISPA is among several petitioners that that sought reconsideration. In addition to a coalition of diverse organizations, companies and public interest groups, other petitioners include Plantronics, a maker of high-quality wireless headsets, Silver Spring Networks, a smart grid company, and a joint filing by the Utilities Telecom Council, Edison Electric Institute, American Public Power Association and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. WISPA’s filing includes three key points:
• The FCC acted arbitrarily, capriciously and contrary to law in failing to adequately define “unacceptable levels of interference”.
• The FCC wrongfully found that Progeny failed to demonstrate that it will not cause “unacceptable levels of interference” to unlicensed devices in the band.
• The FCC should reconsider its decision because it is contrary to Commission policies intended to promote innovation and investment in unlicensed technologies.
“WISPA believes the FCC got it wrong when it approved Progeny’s commercial operations without addressing test results showing severe adverse consequences from Progeny’s interference. In some cases, the 900 MHz band is the only unlicensed band that enables fixed broadband services, so the impact of this decision could be substantial, unless the FCC reconsiders its decision,” said Elizabeth Bowles, President of WISPA. “While WISPA will cooperate with Progeny as directed by the FCC’s decision, we believe that the FCC has ignored the interference protection requirements that were previously established and adopted conditions that will not address interference before it occurs.”
About WISPA
WISPA is a membership-driven trade association that promotes the development, advancement and unity of the wireless Internet service provider industry. WISPA has 700+ members that support WISPA’s advocacy, education and other collaborative industry initiatives. For more information, visit http://www.wispa.org.
Suzanne Urash, WISPA Media Contact, http://www.wispa.org, 813-649-8504, [email protected]
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