pdvWireless acquires, swaps 900 MHz spectrum while awaiting FCC ruling on LMR-to-broadband proposal

O’Brien also said it would not make business sense for pdvWireless to make incumbents unhappy during this process.

“I’ve described where we want to go with this, including getting critical infrastructure to be happy and to become customers,” he said. “So, they’re the last people that we’re going to try to put the screws to when we discuss the merits of comparable.”

Kilbourne said, “The concept is great. It’s the implementation [that determines whether this is good for incumbents].”

Another key concern is whether a guard band is necessary to prevent interference—an issue that is especially important to owners of automated-meter-reading (AMR) systems located in the adjacent band above the proposed pdvWireless broadband swath.

O’Brien said that modern technology utilizes improved filters that negate the need for a guard band. In addition, establishing a guard band would undermine the purpose of reconfiguring the 900 MHz band, because it is a relatively small swath of spectrum, he said.

Even with all of the challenges, O’Brien expressed confidence that the pdvWireless vision for the 900 MHz band can be realized. And incumbents should recognize that the FCC is evaluating all spectrum—including airwaves licensed to the military—for possible sharing and upgraded use, he said.

“Those who are on record as opposed and are willing to discuss it with us in advance of the notice of proposed rulemaking, we have attempted to identify, talk with them and listen,” O’Brien said. “Having done that, I feel more strongly that I did the day we filed that this all works.

“Obviously, implementation is sensitive—we’re dealing with some huge companies and very important communications. We have no incentive to mess with those, other than the basic fundamental principle, which is all spectrum is going to move to higher and better uses, one way or another.”

Although the long-term goal for pdvWireless is to deploy broadband, it is using the 900 MHz narrowband spectrum purchased from Sprint two years ago to deploy enhanced-dispatch networks that utilize MOTOTRBO technology from Motorola Solutions. These systems have been established in seven markets: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.