ViaSat, T-Mobile at Odds Over Need for Spectrum for Satellite Broadband
ViaSat and T-Mobile are clashing over whether additional satellite broadband spectrum is needed. T-Mobile arguments to the negative raise the risk that parts of the country such as rural regions will continue to suffer without broadband access, ViaSat said in…
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a docket 14-177 filing posted Monday. It included a paper by Compass Lexecon in which the economic consultancy called it "unlikely" that terrestrial operators would be willing to contract with satellite providers for relevant spectrum that would make direct access to spectrum for satellite operators unnecessary. Compass Lexecon said terrestrial operators would have a bigger financial incentive to block satellite competition than to reach a spectrum access agreement. T-Mobile, in a filing last month that included a study prepared by Stanford University Public Policy Program Director Gregory Rosston and professor Andrzej Skrzypacz, argued there's no market failure requiring that more spectrum be set aside for satellite operations, and dedicating satellite spectrum to unserved areas is likely an inefficient means of meeting those areas' needs. Pointing to satellite operators seeking to use their spectrum terrestrially, the Stanford study said any additional spectrum provided for satellite uses would likely be followed by pressure to provide terrestrial rights, and it would be better to give flexible-use licenses via an auction to let the winning bidder determine the best use for providing service.