Comparative Telecommunications Law

Brooklyn/Loyola Summer ProgramUIBE - 2006

Prof. Karl Manheim

6: Wireless Telephony

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Wireless Telephony - A PrimerA form of 2-way radio communication Each handset is a transmitter and receiver Low-power, short-range

Base stations (cell towers) must be closely spaced

Private networks (PMRS) E.g., transportation companies; public safety

Common carriers (subscribers) (CMRS) Connected to Public Switched Telephone NetworkWhich serves as the hub for most calls

Except those between subscribers on same network

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Comparison of Wireless & Radio

Wireless Telephony Radio CommunicationPoint-to-point Point-to-multipoint

Connects to PSTN Not networked

End user not licensed End user licensed

Secure frequency Open & shared frequency

Duplex (2 channel) Half-duplex (1 channel)

Wireless Telecom Bureau

Mass Media Bureau

Official Glossary

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Evolution of Wireless Telephony

Remote PatchesMobile TelephonesCellular (AMPS)Personal Communications Service (PCS)Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR)Third Generation Wireless (3G)

Tutorial 1 Tutorial 2 Tutorial 3

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Remote Patch (repeater)

2-way radio connected to a phone 47 CFR § 22.573 widely used by ham (amateur) radio telephone side:

private line connected to PSTN radio side:

private radio service; limited to non-commercial traffic

single frequency use half-duplex

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Cell Concept

Frequency reuse low power transmitters allow same frequency to be reused in small nearby areas

1973 Motorola Patent

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Modern Cell NetworkComputerized cell networkbase stations (mobile telephone switching office - MTSO) linked by land lines to form a network;

MTSO intercon-nects with PSTN

graphic

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Cell Splitting

• Typical cell sizeTypical cell size• Analog: 1-50kmAnalog: 1-50km• PCS & GSM: < 10kmPCS & GSM: < 10km

Macro, Micro, Pico cells

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Wireless TerminologyPMRS Private Mobile Radio Svc (not PSTN connected)

CMRS Commercial Mobile Radio Svc (common carrier)

Cellular (1st Generation) Analog CMRS (800 Mhz band)

PCS (2nd Generation) Digital CMRS (1900 Mhz band)

IMT-2000 (3rd Generation - 3G) Broadband wireless (Int’l Mobile Telecom 2000)

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Early cellular regulationCellular treated as common carrier at first, extension of ILEC monopoly “duopoly” after MFJ

2 “facilities-based” cell carriers per market

2 licenses per market (A band, B band) A Band reserved for non-wireline carriers B Band reserved for wireline (i.e., ILECs)

Restrictions on resale prohibited Encourage competition by “value-added” telcos

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Advanced Mobile Phone Svc (AMPS)

Cellular (47 CFR § 22.900) analog band: 824.04 MHz - 893.7 MHz (70 MHz)

Control channels (forward and reverse) forward: paging channel reverse: registration (ESN, tel #) other control data

Voice channels (forward and reverse) frequency modulation (FM) AMPS - 30KHz wide (compare FM stereo 150 KHz) NAMPS - 10KHz wide (same as AM) full duplex Graphic

frequency division duplexing (FDD) Graphic mobile & base on different frequencies separated by a “guard band”

simultaneous 2-way

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Cellular Frequencies

800 MHz band800 MHz band

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Cellnet v. FCC (6th Cir. 1998)

FCC requires facilities-based mobile carriers to lease network components to resellers Cellnet challenges 1993 (5-yr) sunset provision

Reluctant to make its own capital investments as reseller if likely to be shut out in 5 years

FCC rationale: PCS development will be competitive w/ cellular so that regulation will become unnecessaryPredictive judgment based on market growth

Court defers To superior agency expertise (esp. wrt predictions)

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Personal Com’n Service (PCS)Broadband PCS 120 MHz in 6 blocks (A-F) Telephony plus other servicesdata (paging, text)internet (graphics, email)

Narrowband PCS 3 MHz in 12.5-50 KHz blocks general uses

paging & messagingtelemetry (remote monitoring of field equipment)

other data

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Broadband PCS Frequencies

2 GHz band2 GHz band

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Cellular & Digital MultiplexingFDM (frequency division multiplexing) [AMPS] FDD (frequency division duplexing)

TDMA (time division multiple access) DSI (digital speech interpolation)

CDMA (code division multiple access) Analagous to packet switching over internet

GSM (Global System for Mobil Communication) Form of TDMA used in Europe & Asia (also US)

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Frequency Comparison

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TCA § 101 (Interconnection)47 USC § 251 - Interconnection (a) GENERAL DUTY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS-

Each telecommunications carrier has the duty-- (1) to interconnect directly or indirectly with the facilities and equipment of other telecommunications carriers; and

(2) not to install network features, functions, or capabilities that do not comply with the guidelines and standards established pursuant to section 255 or 256.

What are the LEC – CMRS interconnection obligations? Are they even covered by § 251

Yes; CMRS providers are “telecom carriers”

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CMRS - LEC Interconnection

Mutual exchange of traffic Calls originating on mobile (wireless) unit unless calling another mobile unit, MTSO must interconnect with PSTN

Calls originating on wireline (LEC) if calling a mobile unit, LEC must intercon w. MTSO

Compare Europe FPTN & PMTS interconnection obligations

Fixed Public Telephone Network (comp. PSTN)Public Mobile Telephone Service (comp. CMRS/MTSO)

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Other LEC - CMRS obligations

LEC Obligations - § 251(b) Number portability - sub §2 Dialing parity - sub §3 Reciprocal compensation - sub §5

Additional ILEC Obligations - § 251(c) Interconnection (to enable competition) - sub §2

CMRS/MTSO Obligations None under 251(b) or (c)

not LECs (see §§ 3(26) & 3(44)) unless FCC so declares

What should FCC do?

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Deploying Wireless in USReport & Order and FNPRM (2000) How FCC acts

In re Extending Wireless to Tribal Lands Low penetration rates in low-income areas

Also impedes access to advanced servicesWireless buildout lower than wireline (comp. 3d world)

Bidding credits for targeted deployment Universal Service funding (wireline & wireless)

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Cellular Regulation in the EUCouncil Directive 87/372/EEC Recommendation by CEPT; allotment by ITU Specifying common (pan-EU) frequency band

900 MHz (905-914, 950-959) (890-915, 935-960)Common standards - GSM

Implemented by member states

Council Resolution 90/C 329/09 Urging coordination on network facilities And facilitating roaming agreements

Interoperabilty via national licensing = high roaming rates

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Cellular and EU Open NetworksCouncil/Parliament Directive 97/33/EC Interconnection requirements

Interoperability, non-discrimination, privacyCompare interconnection in US - cell/PSTN

Right of accessNegotiated terms, rates (both FPTN & PMTS)Unbundled access if telco has >25% market share

Principles of transparency & cost orientation (unbundled)

Limited exceptions; not for anti-competitive purpose

Universal Service Subsidy obligations of telcos for public telecom svcs

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Third Generation Wireless (G3)Features Bandwidth on demand

Asymmetric rates up to 2 Mbits/sec Multi-use wireless

Data, multimediaNTIA 3G web site

Frequency allotment in US Current (approx 210 MHz in various bands)

New (likely in 2500-2690 MHz band)Public Notice NOI

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NPRMs on 3G (2001, 2002)Band Clearing (reallocation & relocation) Lower 700 Mhz (TV channels 52-59) 1710-1755 MHz band relinquished by fed gov’t 2110-2155 MHz previously for fixed microwave These bands have good characteristics for 3G

See ITU report and coordination request

Creating a new Band Plan Flexible uses to facilitate growth & innovationLicensees (not FCC) will mediate interferences

Development of Secondary Markets (R&O 2003)

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Deploying 3G in EuropeDecision 128/1999/EC (Parliament & Council) Member states to authorize UMTS by 1/1/2000 And deploy UMTS by 1/1/2002 (coord. by CEPT) Interoperability/interconnection (roaming)

UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecom’n System) Mobile multimedia capabilities IP-based services (bandwidth on demand) Full convergence with FPTN

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Comparing 3G in US, Europe, AsiaUS (as of 2001) Advanced CMRS up to 144 Kbs (typically 25-60)EDGE, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)

Band clearing required for further deployment

Japan WCDMA (wideband CDMA) up to 384 Kbs

Europe GPRS UMTS

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CoverageTues (6/6), Broadband & VoIP: 336-374 Weds (6/7), Internet: 375-410Thurs (6/8), VisitsFri (6/9), Catchup & ReviewSat (6/10), Final