FCC Official Urges WCAI Conference Attendees to Weigh In on Issues

Bruce Gottlieb, chief counsel and senior legal adviser to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, was the opening keynote speaker at the WCAI’s Annual International Symposium at 4G World Sept. 15 in Chicago. Addressing WCAI members and others in the wireless broadband industry, he said in the converged communications landscape, the FCC needs input from a wide variety of parties in order to make the best decisions on wireless issues, according to TR Daily coverage. “The bottom line is simple: The FCC is not hearing from the growing universe of companies in wireless, and as the wireless world expands, so must the FCC’s thinking about wireless.” He compared WCAI conference participants with parties that filed comments in last year’s wireless competition proceeding, noting that most of the latter were carriers and trade organizations. He urged input from a variety of stakeholders, as the FCC works to craft a national broadband plan by a statutory deadline of next February, as well as in its wireless innovation, wireless competition, and consumer disclosure proceedings. He said “one focus of the Commission’s attention will be looking at spectrum availability, and considering ways to ensure that all spectrum bands are being put to their highest and best use.”

FCC Chief Counsel Bruce Gottlieb to Keynote WCAI Symposium

It’s with great pleasure that we announced today that Bruce Gottlieb, FCC Chief Counsel and Senior Legal Advisor to Chairman Julius Genachowski, will kick off the WCAI’s Annual International Symposium with an opening keynote address on September 15, 2009 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL.

I had the privilege of working with Bruce at the FCC for many years. (If I were still a Bureau Chief at the FCC, I’d be working for him.) Bruce now manages the Commission’s overall agenda and has responsibility for policy coordination among all of the FCC’s Bureaus, with particular responsibility for wireless, engineering and technology, and public safety issues.

FCC Chairman Genachowski has demonstrated a commitment to wireless broadband very early in his tenure through new initiatives addressing wireless innovation and competition issues. In this keynote presentation, Bruce, the Chairman’s Chief Counsel, will discuss the Chairman’s priorities for wireless broadband in the coming year and the role of wireless broadband in the National Broadband Plan.

We at WCAI look forward to Bruce’s presentation and invite everyone in the industry to join us for this important regulatory update.