FCC Expected to Make 3.7 GHz Band a Key Spectrum Focus in Coming Months
The 3.7-4.2 GHz band is emerging as one of the next big spectrum focuses of the FCC, with an NPRM likely this summer or before, officials said, but exactly what Chairman Ajit Pai will propose remains to be seen. Last summer, the Broadband Access Coalition (BAC) asked the agency to allow fixed wireless use of the band (see 1708080050), while protecting fixed satellite service incumbents. A rival plan by Intel and others backs licensed use of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band and unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band. Intel also proposed a plan with Intelsat for clearing the 3.7 GHz spectrum (see 1710020047).
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Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, who early on said he was encouraged by the initial Intel-led plan, said last month he hopes Pai will propose an NPRM on the 3.7 GHz spectrum this summer (see 1802130041). In August, commissioners approved a notice of inquiry seeking comment on three specific mid-range bands -- 3.7-4.2 GHz, 5.925-6.425 GHz and 6.425-7.125 GHz (see 1708030052).
“Giving the satellite operators the flexibility to enable mobile service on the 3.7-4-2 GHz spectrum is the single most important thing the FCC, perhaps the government, can do to promote 5G in the U.S.,” said Peter Pitsch, Intel executive director-federal relations. The Intel/Intelsat plan “involves the least amount of top-down, mother-may-I type of regulation, which would spell delay with a capital D,” he said. The world is moving on the band, Pitsch told us. China Mobile is already starting to use 3.7 GHz for 5G with a commitment to deploy 10,000 base stations by 2020, he said. Operators in Japan, Korea and Europe are also looking at the band for 5G, he said. "The rest of the world is moving fast and the FCC should as well," he said.
NTIA’s announcement it's looking at the 1.3 GHz band for broadband (see 1802230052) is “promising” but the band is complicated, with military and other incumbents, said Andrew Clegg, Google spectrum engineering lead, on a CTA panel last week. The 3.7-4.2 GHz spectrum is “of considerable interest” and spectrum that likely could be used “much faster” than other 3 GHz spectrum below the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band, he said. Clegg sees that band as the “lowest hanging fruit” in the mid-band today.
The 3.7-4 GHz band has satellite incumbents, Clegg said. “But we believe that there are tremendous sharing opportunities because those systems don’t move, we know exactly where they are, we know their system characteristics, exactly,” he said.
“We are pleased that the FCC is aggressively seeking out spectrum to be made available for consumer and industry needs,” said Julie Kearney, CTA vice president-regulatory affairs.
The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance “strongly supports Chairman Pai’s efforts to enable increased use of mid-band spectrum in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band as well as the 6 GHz band to provide broadband access services,” said DSA President Kalpak Gude. “We believe that shared and unlicensed regulatory structures are the best way to make the most spectrum available in the shortest time. Even if the commission embraces plans to clear portions of certain bands for exclusive licensing, we believe shared approaches in the remainder of the spectrum should be used to unlock currently underutilized spectrum, while still protecting incumbent services.”
The 3.7-4.2 GHz band looks likely to become a global roaming band, said Roger Entner, analyst at Recon Analytics. “Almost every country is setting it aside for mobile 5G. The U.S. needs to do the same to reduce device complexity, lower costs and increase consumer benefits that come from global 5G roaming.” Entner said there's “much less international consensus” on the 6-7 GHz band.
Michael Calabrese, of New America's Wireless Future Project, a proponent of the BAC proposal, also sees potentially quick action on the 3.7-4.2 GHz band. “Since the band is 500 MHz, in local areas where frequencies are not in use for mobile 5G or [the fixed satellite service], the commission can immediately allow fixed-wireless operators to use the vacant frequencies to bring high-capacity broadband to rural and other unserved areas,” Calabrese said. “If the fixed-wireless operators are required to move frequencies as needed, which BAC has proposed, the FCC can achieve both spectrum efficiency and a win-win for both 5G and rural broadband.”
“This is another opportunity for the commission to demonstrate whether its talk about bridging the digital divide is more than just talk,” said Chuck Hogg, chairman of the Wireless ISP Association, which also supports the BAC proposal. “It’s extremely important that the FCC take this opportunity to achieve two of its most important objectives … attracting private investment to deliver affordable, high-speed, last-mile broadband access in rural America, and stimulating much-needed competition to incumbent fixed broadband providers in more densely populated areas,” the group said. “What could be more important? Does anyone seriously believe that faster streaming video on mobile devices in urban areas is more important than delivering high-speed fixed broadband to rural America, and more competition everywhere?”
“No doubt we'll see an NPRM this summer -- the big question is how aggressive the commission will be in clearing the band,” said Doug Brake, director-telecom policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. “Some argue you can share without too much disruption, but this would limit the services potentially entering the band. The Intel/Intelsat proposal is intriguing, but could see hold-out problems. The dynamics are different with fewer satellite operators compared to the broadcast auction. I think a lot of these services could be replaced by newer technology. The headends that haven't already made the switch could be served by fiber.”