William D. Tolpegin, Vice President, Development & Planning, EarthLink Municipal Networks

FCC Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein opens WCA 2006, and shares his views on critical regulatory issues that affect broadband wireless deployments.  He said that he was “troubled” by several areas of the FCC’s rules for the Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) auction that began Aug. 9, including the impact of blind bidding on small carriers and the FCC’s recent rules for transitioning Broadband Radio Service (BRS) licensees out of the 2.1 GHz band to 2.4 GHz to make way for new licensees.  Details.

Acting Assistant U.S. Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information John M.R. Kneuer, the Bush Administration’s top advisor on telecom policy and also NTIA administrator, delivers a keynote address outlining the Administration’s goals and accomplishments for broadband policy.  He said that broadband rollout in the U.S. is far more impressive than some studies indicate and is rapidly growing.  Citing the need to spur government cooperation in freeing spectrum, he quoted President Bush as saying: “The existing legal and policy framework for spectrum management has not kept pace with the dramatic changes in technology and spectrum use.”Details.

As broadband wireless takes center stage in Brazil, Leila Loria, President of TVA, Grupo Abril and NEOTEC, highlights the potential progress and technological advances recently enabled by the regulator ANATEL in one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing mobile markets.  “Human behavior, trends, technologies are constantly changing,” she said.  “Being ahead of the changes is the only way to be part of the future.”  TVA is part of the Abril group and the leader of the Brazilian association of MMDS operators in the 2.5 GHz MMDS band NEOTEC.  TVA signed contract with Samsung.  Working together, they are launching mobile pre-WiMAX service in Brazil’s largest markets in a deployment attracting attention from the wireless industry worldwide.  Details.  Building on the momentum of Brazil’s next generation broadband wireless trials described at WCA 2006, WCA launched a website as a portal to broadband wireless business opportunities in Brazil.  The site features key broadband wireless carriers, vendors, system integrators and the most relevant thought-leaders in government and the private sector, including Loria.

Keynoter Scott Richardson, Vice President of the Intel Corp. Mobility Group and General Manager of the Service Provider Business Group, reveals next-generation WiMAX silicon device, a dual-mode chipset that will work in both 802.16d and 802.16e modes.  Richardson said that WiMAX is proceeding at a “record-setting pace” with about 35 complete networks and 175 trials. 

Morgan O’Brien, co-founder of Nextel and CEO of Cyren Call Communications Corp., is creating a vigorous debate in telecom by proposing to increase public safety spectrum at 700 MHz by an additional 30 MHz with Cyren Call administering the band.  Opening WCA 2006, he faced off with CTIA’s Paul Garnett who contended that current allocations are adequate and that additional spectrum is better used by the private sector, including those selling services to government users.  Also participating in this timely cutting-edge debate was Joe Ross of the Government of the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer and the U.S. Spectrum Coalition.

Vice President of KT Corp.’s Service Development Mobile Internet Business Group Dr. Jin Dae Kim announces that day’s launch of wireless broadband WiBro services in Korea during the exclusive WCA 2006 session.  He offered an authoritative overview of KT’s nearly billion dollar deployment over 2.3 GHz frequencies.  KT Corp. is the major Korean carrier implementing WiBro – a variant of emerging WiMAX mobility technology that complements Korea’s CDMA EV-DO networks and is helping the country achieve a comprehensive broadband infrastructure.  The session attracted strong media attendance, including by Korea’s major wire service Yonhap News Agency and largest commercial broadcaster SBS.  Details.

Sprint Nextel Vice President of Spectrum Development Robert Finch addresses the audience during the WCA 2006 Keynote Luncheon. He provided updates on the timing and other valuable details on his company’s 4G technology plans.  Finch urged other U.S. licensees in the 2.5 GHz band to begin transition planning on an expedited basis.   He said that his company has the money and other resources to “go out and make broadband wireless work” in its nearly nationwide footprint of licenses at 2.5-2.6 GHz.  (Soon after, Sprint Nextel announced its decision to use mobile WiMAX Forum-certified technology for its new 4G network.  See Details and WCA’s press statement.)

Linda W. Cropp, Chairman of the Washington, D.C. City Council and one of the leading candidates for D.C. Mayor, delivers a keynote address during the Metro DC Municipal Wireless Showcase co-hosted by WCA and Washington D.C. Technology Council.  The half-day summit featured advanced broadband applications that benefit Metro DC government enterprises, businesses and consumers.  “The Wireless Communications Association and the Washington DC Technology Council are the kinds of industry trade associations that are vital to building the global economy through advanced technology and to creating the important knowledge-based jobs for the District of Columbia in the 21st Century,” she said.  Cropp was sworn in as the first woman to chair the Council of the District of Columbia in 1997. 

WCA President Andrew Kreig addresses the crowd at the WCA 2006 opening ceremony, emphasizing the Association’s role in fostering the right regulatory policies.  “Our enthusiasm for this program is part of a shared journey, as WCA works year-round…to address vital wireless broadband issues in government relations, standards, technology and business development,” he said.  Kreig has been President and CEO of the Wireless Communications Association