FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 03, 2008

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Urges FCC to Ensure New Rules Allow Advanced Cordless Phones to Operate

Requested Rule Change Will Prevent Interference Expected to Result From the FCC’s Proposed H Block Rules

Washington, D.C.. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leader in advocacy, standards development, business development and intelligence for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, called upon the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to amend frequency rules so that advanced cordless phones can continue to operate in the AWS H Block after the FCC adopts rules for this spectrum.

In Comments filed today, TIA stated that a change in Part 15 frequency limits is required so that cordless phones may continue to operate if the FCC changes H Block rules as it currently proposes.  Cordless phones and other Unlicensed Personal Communications Services (UPCS) devices currently operate in a designated band (the UPCS band) with regulatory flexibility so that new cordless technologies can be advanced.  However, TIA made clear, the FCC’s proposed H Block rules will render cordless phones in the UPCS Band inoperable without changing frequency rules for UPCS devices.  The FCC should, TIA argued, eliminate the threshold requirement associated with the “least interfered-channel rule” in Part 15, and reduce the minimum number of channels to be monitored under the least interfered-channel rules from 40 to 20.

“Thanks to the FCC’s unwavering support of advancing cordless phone technology through regulations that prevent interference and provide flexibility for cordless phone operability, TIA members are manufacturing highly advanced cordless phones,” said Danielle Coffey, TIA Vice President for Government Affairs.  “For example, TIA members produce cordless phones with Bluetooth® technology to initiate and receive cell phone calls from a cordless handset.  Further, TIA members are developing cordless phones with IP broadband connectivity for cordless-based Internet access and applications.  Such advancements can only be furthered by making the UPCS band changes we endorse today; without such rules, these new technologies will not work for consumers.  It is our hope that the FCC will evaluate this proposal and adopt it as part of its H Block restructuring effort,” Coffey concluded.

The full text of the TIA Comments filed today with the FCC is available in PDF format on the FCC Filings page at tiaonline.org.

For more information on this matter, please contact Patrick Sullivan at 202-346-3244 or psullivan@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. With roots dating back to 1924, TIA enhances 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 co-owns the SUPERCOMM® tradeshow and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit tiaonline.org.

TIA’s Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS, ADC, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, ArrayComm, AttivaCorp, Avaya, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cam Communications, Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., Graybar, Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, OneChip Photonics Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., Verari Systems, Westell Technologies, Inc. and Zebra Technologies Corporation. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, Orca Systems and Telcordia Technologies.

 

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