[Satellite TODAY 05-24-10] The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted unanimously to amend the Wireless Communications Service (WCS) spectrum rules to include mobile broadband uses and allow mobile broadband providers to offer services on a 25MHz band of spectrum, according to FCC documents filed May 20.
    The commission’s action is the first phase of its plan to find 500MHz of spectrum for mobile broadband over the next 10 years as outlined in the agency’s national broadband plan, released in March.
    The FCC order also establishes power level maximums for WCS spectrum users, allows Sirius to use terrestrial repeaters to boost its signals and requires WCS spectrum holders to build out their service to 40 percent of the license area within 42 months and 75 percent within 72 months.
    “The modification to our WCS rules comes at the moment that 4G technologies are ready to be commercially deployed. I am pleased that by taking a fresh look at the WCS rules, we are able to create an environment for innovative, cutting-edge mobile products and services in a spectrum band that has essentially remained fallow for years,” FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said in a statement.