Itron May Benefit From Fcc Plan Airwaves Now Used By Military Might Change To Private Uses

A new Federal Communications Commission proposal could clarify Itron Inc. rights to airwaves that are critical to some company products.

The commission said Monday it may reallocate 27 megahertz of the broadcast spectrum now used by the U.S. Department of Defense to private interests.

Two of the seven broadcast segments subject to a proposed order of rulemaking - 1427 megahertz to 1429 megahertz and 1429 megahertz to 1432 megahertz - were awarded to Itron in 1994, said company spokeswoman Mima Scarpelli.

Itron uses the frequencies to link its automated meter-reading devices in a network that enables utilities to track electricity, natural gas or water use.

But Itron’s license subordinated its rights to the spectrum to the military’s needs, she said.

Legislation passed by Congress in 1993 and 1997 authorized reallocation, according to an FCC statement issued Monday.

The FCC said the additional frequencies should help alleviate airwave congestion and stimulate the development of new technologies.

In June, Scarpelli said, the commission announced the higher of the two frequency bands allotted to Itron would instead be dedicated to wireless medical telemetry.

The lower half was subject to further review, she said.

Scarpelli said Itron has worked closely with providers of wireless medical communications to work out an agreement that would allow Itron and the medical communications providers to share both frequency bands.

In markets where meter-reading and medical uses might conflict, Scarpelli said, providers will work to assure that their broadcast signals do not interfere with each other.

“It’s a fair amount of spectrum,” she said. “There’s enough room for us to cohabitate.”