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The management of spectrum resources is now, more than ever, crucial to a countrys communications. Indeed, channel congestion, broadcast interference and the unlicensed
use of the airwaves inhibit the deployment of the latest in wireless technologies. Countries must manage and control their airwaves. They have to know where and what
frequencies are being used. And by whom. Countries need to assign spectrum using a systematic process that is every bit as modern and efficient as the technology it
supports.
For more than 16 years, we have provided government authorities a one-stop shop for all aspects of spectrum management. From pre-auction application filing to
designing and running spectrum auctions, post-auction licensing and reporting & results, our capabilities enable countries to control broadcast assignments within a region or
country. From processing broadcast applications to selecting frequencies and allocating licenses, we help clients gain control of their airwaves.
While best known for our 16 years of continuous service at the FCC, Computech has worked with
telecommunication authorities around the world in a variety of spectrum-related roles. For instance, we provided
support to Thailands Post and Telegraph Department by leading spectrum frequency management projects, and
developed and implemented multiple online auction platforms for Mexicos COFETEL. Recently, both Ofcom (in
the United Kingdom) and Industry Canada awarded supply agreements that allow us to support their spectrum Spectrum management
auction programs.
services
A 31-year old IT firm founded on the simple idea that the best systems are built in close collaboration between IT
experts and business experts, we keep our methods simple. The technical services we provide directly relate to
Designing licensing systems
managing a nations spectrum management lifecycle:
Inventory + Audit
Spectrum dashboards
Auctions Communicating a DTV transition
Licensing Liberalisation
Secondary markets Exchange
The Build vs. Buy Decision
We work with regulators to build a strong foundation as they think about re-farming, the digital divide and new
auction rules + designs. The spectrum lifecycle, from an IT perspective, incorporates three major phases:
Planning
Allocation
Post-allocation + maintenance
A portfolio of systems can (and usually does) support each phase. From data collection to integration,
optimization to validation, our support enables countries to take a programatic approach to managing spectrum.
Background:
For over a decade, Computech has supported bilingual auctions for the Mexican Governments Comisin Federal De Telecomunicaciones (COFETEL). We first established a partnership with
COFETEL in 1995, when we were selected to customize a licensed version of the FCCs Automated Auction System. We have served as the sole auction solution provider for COFETEL since
that time, delivering three custom auction systems. During this timeframe, we expanded our relationship with COFETEL, based on our continued success, to provide auction policy and design
consulting services in addition to auction system services. We now serve as the service provider that supports COFETELs entire auction program.
Challenges:
Computech faced tight initial government-mandated deadlines as well as strong public pressure from the Mexican spectrum industry to deliver the completed auction system in just over four
months from the release of the auction rules. Additionally, Computech must ensure that our platform comply with international standards, operate fully in Spanish, and meet the unique needs
of Mexicos telecommunication users (e.g. spectrum cap limits and reporting, accommodating on-site bidding).
Solution:
COFETEL selected the Computech team to provide full auction lifecycle support, from initial auction policy, design, and format consultation, through system customization, and live auction
conduct and support. To support Mexicos spectrum auction plans, we delivered a leading-edge version of our auction platform (CAP) in 2009 for COFETEL to ensure the Mexican
government could provide spectrum services that incorporated modern auction design and methodology, as well as conformed to international best-practices. After deploying the auction
system, the Computech team went on-site in Mexico City to lead hands-on training with COFETEL staff for conducting the full auction life cycle with the new system, support internal mock
auctions, customer mock auctions, as well as the initiation of the live auction process.
Notable Results:
On May 25, 2010, the Computech team kicked off COFETELs current two parallel auctions, Auctions 20 & 21, on-site in Mexico City with the COFETEL
auction team & auction participants. From these two auctions, COFETEL anticipates $1 - $2 Billion pesos in combined high bid amounts.
Background:
In 2009, Congress required a transition from analog to digital broadcasting. Known as the DTV transition, Congress charged the FCC with providing real-time information to the general public
in advance of this national switchover.
Challenges:
While the FCCs main website provided cursory information, such as policy documents and scheduled transition dates, they could not make available real-time transition data, from public-
facing tracking statistics to internal executive-level decision making. With the vast majority of the U.S. public uninformed and unequipped for the transition, FCC help desks were flooded with
calls from nervous and confused citizens. Further complicating the transition: service providers kept customer data private, preventing the FCC from modeling supply or demand challenges.
In addition, allowing industry to shape the message about the risks and costs of the transition to the public undermined confidence in the FCC.
Solution:
Working with the FCCs Office of Communication and New Media bureau, we created a dashboard specific to the DTV transition, and separate from www.fcc.gov. We built the site to integrate
data from non-standard sources (e.g. national broadcasters and crowd-sourced feedback from the public). Packaged in a rich, intuitive interface, behind the scenes DTV.gov required
complicated analytical transformations, integration with other systems for key data, and authoring tools that enabled business users to keep the site up-to-the-minute fresh. This solution
enabled FCC staff to mobilize hundreds of grass roots support organizations, Congressional staff, and millions of U.S. households by providing up-to-the-day information on:
Background:
The FCCs Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) oversees millions of private, commercial, and non-governmental spectrum authorizations. For years, the WTB issued hundreds of
thousands of spectrum licenses under 10 wireless services, each characterized by a unique business process and licensing system. Subsequently, a disproportionate number of paper forms
collected by the FCC contained inconsistent information, ultimately creating latent and costly application processing delays.
Challenges:
About 500,000 applications are received per year by the FCC. Prior to development of a universal licensing system, these applications had to be hand keyed, verified with applications, and
manually moved through many workflows. Moreover, applicants tracked the progress of their application by calling the FCC to get status updates. And to top it off, each of the prior
applications had their own maintenance and support teams. This poses a real challenge to the FCC in terms of regulation + oversight; that is, who holds spectrum licenses and whos using
spectrum.
Solution:
Working with the FCC, we make available web interfaces that allows the public to search for license information and file applications for updating or requesting new licenses. This licensing
system simplifies the application and licensing processes and provides secure, world-wide access through the Internet. This universal licensing system consists of five major subsystems that
accommodates all application and licensing processes including:
Electronic filing;
Automated application processing;
Internal administration;
Automated outputs (letters, Public Notices, emails, authorizations); and
Searches (internal, external and reports).
Notable Results:
ULS collapses 45 data forms into 5, greatly simplifying the tasks of the applicant. By using an online system instead of paper, users receive immediate feedback on data
entered, which reduces rework. Processing time is reduced to a few days from many weeks, and users can check the status of an application at any time. This encourages
secondary market competition, as industry now knows who owns which licenses and whats been built.
Lawrence Fitzpatrick Larry Fitzpatrick, or Fitz, is the president of Computech, a leading technology consulting
President
firm that supports numerous public and private clients. Under Fitzs direction, the firm
301.656.4030
creates mission-critical custom applications that last by building software that matters.
lfitzpatrick@computechinc.com
Before joining Computech in 2009, he led the NASD's/FINRA's software development
organization transformation from scratch to 500+ people in less than 8 years. Before that, he
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was VP at Open Text Corp and at PLS.
linkedin.com/in/lfitzpatrick
Alfred S. Dominick III Al Dominick joined Computech in 2005; since than, hes met with regulators from around the
Vice President
world to discuss the various ways technologies help manage scarce spectrum resources. Al
301.656.4030
leads our IT firms business development efforts; specifically, running our sales, marketing and
adominick@computechinc.com
communications efforts. A voracious reader, he regularly writes about auctions, data
management and business intelligence for our firm. He earned his MBA from the University
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of Maryland and BA in Politics from Washington & Lee University.
linkedin.com/in/aldominick
Kris Shields leads Computechs Auction Practice, and specializes in auction systems design
and development. He has built spectrum auction systems for the last seven years for a variety
Kristofer Shields
of spectrum regulators, including the FCC and COFETEL. Under his lead, Computechs
Auction Practice Lead
auction systems allowed the FCC to generate over $13.8 billion from its AWS auction in 2006,
301.656.4030
where 1,087 licenses were awarded after 168 bidders engaged in 161 rounds of bidding.
adominick@computechinc.com
In addition, he led Computechs auction team in support of the FCCs most financially
successful auction, its 700MHz auction that raised $19.1 billion in 2008. Most recently, Mr.
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Shields led Computechs development and operations research team in the creation of the
Computech Auction Platform (CAP).
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301.656.7060 (fax)
computechinc.com
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#spectrummanagement