In a message dated 10/27/2003 1:03:20 PM Eastern Standard Time, dick@pobox.com writes:

I'm not familiar with the law in this area, but it's my understanding that the purpose of a STA is to see if a given communications technology is truly viable in the field with all parties (pro and con) in possession of all the facts. In my opinion, Ambient's letter is nothing more than an attempt to pervert the purpose of their STA. As such, perhaps the STA should be revoked?

Well, Dick, you have enunciated the purposes of an experimental license. The purpose of an STA is to do short term operation that isn't possible under normal rules; STAs are not really the same as experimental licenses, which are good for up to five years. Companies do request confidentiality from time to time; normally only until their proprietary interests are addressed through patents, trademarks, or copyrights. There ARE instances where a new technology is kept confidential, but FCC has a predisposition against granting such. Most of the time, such grants are made where there is a military contract being fulfilled, or similar. Chris