The potential benefits of Wi-Fi and how best to encourage the roll out of the Internet across the world are among the likely hot topics at the ITU’s 2004 Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) next week, which for the first time will be chaired by a U.S. regulator -- FCC Comr. Abernathy. Abernathy told us Mon. she’s approaching the session with an open mind and the U.S. also has much to learn, for example on how other nations are handling universal service.

Verizon Wireless agreed to buy all of NextWave’s PCS licenses for $3 billion, the companies said Fri. A federal Bankruptcy Court will be asked to rule on the request at a Nov. 30 hearing in White Plains, N.Y., since the sale represents NextWave’s new reorganization plan. Meanwhile, a top FCC official said the deal likely won’t set off regulatory red flags.

An FCC source said while the Triennial Review Order’s final UNE rules appear a “virtual certainty” to get a vote at the Dec. meeting, the Commission has more “leeway” to delay the DTV transition. The source noted that the victory this week of President Bush means Chmn. Powell has more time to complete his agenda. “There’s obviously less urgency now,” the source said: “Powell doesn’t have to leave.”

The FCC published in the Federal Register Tues. its proposed rule seeking public comments on the controversial auction of H-block spectrum. The FCC approved an item starting the Commission on the long road to an auction on Sept. 9 (CD Sept 10 p1) against strong wireless carrier opposition. The notice establishes a Nov. 23 deadline for comments and Jan. 7 for replies.

Chmn. Powell has decided to pull the controversial air-to-ground (ATG) order from consideration at the Nov. agenda meeting, we learned. Sources said the problems proved too difficult to work through in the unusually short time between the Oct. and Nov. meetings. Powell first received an ATG proposal from the Wireless Bureau for a vote at the Oct. meeting, but decided not to circulate the item and sent it back for more work. This month he started to circulate an order on the 8th floor, but because questions remain the order won’t be on the sunshine agenda due to circulate Tues. Several key players including the Assn. of Public Safety Communications Officials and Nextel asked the FCC for a delay. “I think there was a certain inevitability to the item being pulled,” said one source who has been lobbying the FCC on the issue. “I said all along they'd be lucky to make the Nov. meeting.” A 2nd source said: “It’s really helpful to have the additional time for the Commission to fully vet and analyze the new AirCell-Boeing plan and understand and address the issues that need to be addressed.” The ATG order explores how to reengineer the process of making phone calls on commercial flights. The fight pits incumbent Verizon AirFone, which wants the FCC to auction a single license, against AirCell and Boeing. An item addressing the use of 4.9 GHz spectrum by public agencies is still expected to get a vote.

ANNAPOLIS -- FCC Office of Engineering & Technology Chief Edmond Thomas said the Commission’s proposed advanced wireless services (AWS) auction dramatically demonstrates the need to reform how the FCC reallocates spectrum between the govt. and private sectors. Thomas told the Dept. of Defense Spectrum Summit here Fri. the 90 MHz reallocation -- 45 MHz of which is coming from govt. spectrum, possibly through federal legislation (CD Oct 29 p1) -- has taken far too long.

The FCC is looking at 2155-2165 MHz for a potential spectrum testbed, a key recommendation of a June NTIA report on U.S. spectrum policy in the 21st Century, Office of Engineering & Technology Deputy Chief Bruce Franca said. That spectrum was formerly used in part for MDS channels one and 2 and is adjacent to spectrum that’s to be allocated to advanced wireless services. Franca said the testbed would be used to “look at new technologies, which would allow better sharing between govt. and non- govt. users. We haven’t really defined what that means. Is that cognitive radio? Is it preemption?” But Franca said no decisions have been made, and other bands are still being examined. Franca also said the Commission hasn’t done any additional H-block interference testing since agreeing to move forward with an eventual auction of the spectrum. “The Nokia tests were pretty well done and pretty extensive,” he told us. Franca also said the FCC is examining providing more spectrum for WiMax, potentially as either a licensed or unlicenced service.

President Bush and challenger Sen. Kerry (D-Mass.) may have given their most detailed insight yet into their position on technology and telecom issues with their answers to a Computer Technology Industry Assn. (CompTIA) questionnaire. On some issues, such as intellectual property protection and Internet pornography, Bush and Kerry are very similar, analysts said. But the 2 candidates have large differences in other areas, such as broadband deployment.

The FCC released an order early Tues. conditionally approving the merger of Cingular and AT&T Wireless. However, Comrs. Copps and Adelstein issued vigorous partial dissents, saying the order fails to address the effect on intermodal competition between wireline and wireless markets.

AirCell warned the FCC in a letter sent to the 5 Commissioners that indications from the FCC are that the Commission staff is recommending a single 4 MHz license, which AirCell warned would effectively hand Verizon AirFone a continuing monopoly in commercial aviation communications. The item is scheduled for a vote at the Nov. meeting but could still fall off the agenda. An official with Verizon questioned the AirCell arguments, saying all his company has asked for is an auction, not to be the winning bidder.