Wireless Spectrum License Preservation Programs

Challenge/Opportunity

Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) fixed wireless spectrum licenses in more than 100+ markets across the country were set to expire in mid-2008. These licenses were purchased at auction several years prior at great cost. In some cases, much of the value of the licensee’s companies were tied to the wireless spectrum assets. The spectrum holders needed to protect the highly-valued licenses and required an executable program and service partner for meeting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Substantial Service and License Renewal requirements within an eighteen (18) month period.

Clients for this program included multiple LMDS spectrum holders in the United States who provide broadband wireless services to the wireless and wireline communications service provider, business and government markets. LMDS uses microwave signals to transmit voice, video, and data signals. It is a broadband wireless service that relies on microwave radios to send large amounts of information between each of the radios at very high speeds. Clients for this project included several of the nation’s largest holders of LMDS fixed wireless spectrum.

Solution

Widelity was engaged to design and execute a full turnkey solution prior to the market license renewal deadlines. This solution involved the creation of both Program and Operations Offices and to work closely with each client group to define and execute the following tasks:

• Program and Project Management
• Process, systems, tracking, metrics and information archiving
• Change management initiatives
• Matrix management coordination and reporting
• Financial planning and budgeting
• Frequency coordination
• FCC license renewal filing and substantial service documentation
• Equipment specification
• Equipment procurement and logistics
• Site identification
• GIS mapping and population assessment
• Site survey and drawing packages
• Engineering package coordination
• Site acquisition, leasing, contracts
• Zoning and Permitting
• Civil construction and construction management
• Equipment installation
• Commissioning and Site Acceptance testing

Benefits

Widelity proved its planning and project methodology with the first LMDS substantial service fulfillment approvals from the FCC, followed by successful license renewals for clients in April 2008. Widelity successfully completed substantial service and license renewal applications for all of the Wireless Spectrum License Preservation Program customers. In a larger sense, what evolved was a proven and industry standard wireless spectrum license preservation program model which can support the license preservation requirements of any wireless license holder to ensure the successful renewal of their valuable wireless spectrum assets.