FCC may help Sprint and more with fast licenses

The FCC put forward a proposal for rule changes on Wednesday that could significantly speed up better coverage for CDMA carriers in the US. It would use the same strategy that was used for the 700MHz and 1,700MHz (AWS) auctions, where licenses would be handed out based on auctions for regions. The earlier approach relied on analog signal propagation at cell sites and was now more of a hindrance than a help in areas where coverage had long since been filled out, the agency said.

Officials would likewise ask for seven fewer pieces of information to get a license. Most of these were "outdated" requirements from the end of analog cellphone service in the 1990s. The step was partly a reflection of President Obama's State of the Union mandate to cut out regulations that were obsolete or otherwise weren't worth their inclusion.

Some applications for cellular licenses had been frozen in the meantime to streamline approvals.

The move could help accelerate coverage plans for Sprint, Verizon, and other carriers that either run in the 800MHz band or have access to it. They could either fill out voice links or to repurpose existing networks for LTE. Sprint isn't as likely to conduct the latter as its current LTE plans are focusing on higher frequencies. [via Phone Scoop]

By Electronista Staff