In his annual address to the convention of CTIA-The Wireless Association, held this year in New Orleans, Julius Genachowski called for using "new tools to solve new problems."

Cashing In

"Auctions have been a huge success," the chairman said, according to a transcript of his remarks on the FCC Web site. "Pioneered in America, they have raised over $50 billion for the Treasury and unleashed hundreds of billions of dollars in benefits for our economy.

"Of course, it's become more difficult to find spectrum to auction, but, to borrow a phrase, reports of the spectrum auction's demise have been greatly exaggerated."

Genachowski said it was also crucial to identify and remove regulations that prevented spectrum from being used as needed today.

"With AWS-4, also known as the 'MSS S-Band,' we recently launched a rulemaking to convert 40 megahertz of prime spectrum from satellite to terrestrial use. We expect to issue new rules by year end," he said.

Genachowski said he was working to remove an "outdated rule" that restricted long-term evolution high speed data networks to 25 kilohertz channels, to allow its rollout in the 800 megahertz band.

"We're not only removing barriers to flexible use of spectrum, we are also eliminating barriers to wireless infrastructure buildout," he said, citing a new initiative that puts a 90-day "shot-clock" on the approval process for tower and antenna siting.

"The shot-clock idea originated with CTIA, and our doors remain open to ideas for removing unnecessary barriers to wireless buildout," said the chairman.

During his three-year tenure, Genachowski has earned a reputation for representing the public good rather than being too cozy with industry insiders, analyst Charles King of Pund-IT told us.

"I find his refusal to play the game by traditional rules refreshing, particularly when it impacts larger players who preach the gospel of the free market and/or take goofy protectionist stances whenever it suits their interests," King said.

One criticism, though: "He could do a better job of educating the public about his actions, and how the FCC is impacting their lives and pocket books. As mobile technologies become increasingly ubiquitous, what the FCC does or doesn't do has material effects on peoples' lives -- whether they understand it or not."

Increasing Efficiency

In his CTIA address, the chairman said he was also focused on improving the efficiency of networks and devices to lower costs to consumers, while maximizing gains for carriers and manufacturers.

"Some in the industry are already designing and building the next generation of mobile networks -- beyond even 4G ," Genachowski said. "Innovators are developing new technologies to modernize network management -- shifting from hardware to software ; from customized networks to standardized networks.

"We will work with all stakeholders on strategies to incentivize and accelerate order-of-magnitude improvements in network efficiency. "

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