Space Data Corporation Supports FCC's Plan at Senate Hearing to Bring Telecom to Indian Tribal Lands
May 14, 2002-Washington, DC: In written testimony today submitted to a joint hearing of the Senate Commerce and Indian Affairs Committees, Gerald Knoblach explained, "The vast areas of many Indian reservations demand unique solutions. One way the Federal Communications Commission is seeking to address the lack of communications services on tribal lands is through its Tribal Bidding Credits program. Space Data is proud to have taken a leadership role within the telecommunications industry in working with various tribes to make this program a success. We believe that the Tribal Bidding Credits program has great potential and will benefit through an expanded outreach and informational effort by the FCC." Knoblach is chairman and CEO of the Space Data Corporation, a telecommunications company created to bring wireless services to rural and underserved areas.
Under the FCC's Tribal Bidding Credits program, telecommunication companies can receive monetary credits to be used in spectrum auctions. The FCC awards these credits to winning bidders who use spectrum licenses to deploy telecom services to federally recognized tribal lands. Before receiving such credits, however, tribes must provide certification that they are allowing these companies to provide wireless services for their reservations. To date, four tribes have chosen Space Data Corporation to provide services. The are the Jicarilla Apache Nation of New Mexico; Eastern Band of Cherokee of Cherokee, North Carolina; Hualapai of Arizona; and the Ft. McDermitt Shoshone Paiute Tribe of Nevada and Oregon.
In November, Space Data was high bidder on more than 1.4 MHz of nationwide Narrowband PCS spectrum in the 900 MHz band. The Corporation will pay approximately $4.2 million of these spectrum licenses after small business and tribal land bidding credits are applied.
Space Data will use the spectrum allocation to bring a host of advanced digital wireless communications services to rural and underserved areas across the United States. The company's unique technology combines low-cost communications electronics with weather balloons ("SkySites"). The technology, while unique to the telecom industry, has been used continuously for more than 60 years by weather services throughout the world. The Space Data system works seamlessly with existing wireless devices and service providers at a cost comparable to the use of towers in urban areas. Hence, no special customer equipment is required.
Space Data will operate primarily as a "carrier's carrier" serving existing wireless service providers, who in turn serve the end users. The Space Data system allows wireless carriers to extend their reach at a fraction of the cost of building towers or using satellites. Space Data will open the world of advanced wireless communications to the approximately 20 percent of the US population who currently live outside coverage areas.
Media Contact:
Tim Ayers
202-857-9734
(Cell) 202-422-5048
tim@ayersassociates.net