FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2010

TIA Urges FCC to Deny Petition for Severe Restrictions for Mobile Devices in 700 MHz Spectrum

Petition Presents Significant Technical and Interference Problems, Will Severely Delay the Availability of Wireless Devices in the Band, and Violates the Commission's Technology-Neutral Policy

Arlington, Va. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) today filed reply comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urging it to reject a petition to freeze any 700 MHz mobile device approval while it establishes rules to require that all 700 MHz mobile equipment be capable of operating on all paired commercial 700 MHz frequency bands.

The petition, submitted by the 700 MHz Block A Good Faith Purchasers Alliance (Alliance), "will present significant technical and interference problems, severely delay the availability of wireless devices in the 700 MHz spectrum, and violate the Commission's policy of technology neutrality," said TIA Vice President for Government Affairs Danielle Coffey.

TIA pointed out that the Alliance is ignoring technological and marketplace realities that will stall progress to make 700 MHz devices rapidly available at reasonable cost. Forcing carriers to develop devices capable of operating on each band in the 700 MHz band severely discourages a licensee's prerogative to change air interfaces, thus thwarting the Commission's technology-neutral policy.

"As other commenters in this matter make clear, technical and market-based concerns will result in stifled innovation and increased cost to consumers," said Coffey.

For the reasons cited in its comments, TIA recommended that the Commission deny the Alliance Petition.

Read the comments on TIA's FCC filings page at tiaonline.org.

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About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, tradeshows, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. Since 1924, TIA has been enhancing the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment and entertainment.

TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit tiaonline.org.

TIA's Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, AttivaCorp, Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Inc., GENBAND, Inc., Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, Intersect, Inc., LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, Openwave, Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Powerwave Technologies, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., and Wirefree. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, Orca Systems and Telcordia Technologies.

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