FCC Replies Back 900 MHz Realignment, With Caveats, to Bolster Security, Broadband
Electric utilities want to use the 900 MHz band to warn of security-related issues but have some concerns, they said in FCC replies posted through Wednesday in docket 17-200. “Utility comments on the record are divided between support for and…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
opposition to the 900 MHz realignment,” the Utilities Technology Council said: “Some utilities that support realignment of the 900 MHz band would also prefer that the Commission provide access to broadband spectrum in another band. All utilities that support the realignment of the 900 MHz band agree that narrowband systems also must be protected against interference.” The New York Power Authority supported realignment. It would “provide utilities with a secure, reliable and scalable private LTE broadband network, and respectfully urges the Commission to move expeditiously,” NYPA said. Southern California Edison said the need for secure wireless broadband “is currently most intense for utilities with both very large service areas, large numbers of subscribers, and exposure to environmental hazards such as wildfires, hurricanes and other extreme weather conditions.” There’s “a shortage of broadband spectrum available for use by the Critical Infrastructure Industry, particularly for higher speed point-to-multipoint data applications,” the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association said. Anterix, asking for the change for a few years, urged expeditious action. “While many industries in this country are eager for access to private broadband capability, two mutually reinforcing factors have made it an existential necessity for the electric utility community: the need to modernize the grid to prevent cascading power outages and the need to shield the grid from cybersecurity attacks,” the company said: “The record in this proceeding is extensive and fully supports adopting rules consistent with the Commission’s proposal to create a 900 MHz broadband option.” The Enterprise Wireless Alliance said the spectrum should be available to more than just utilities and others in the critical infrastructure industry (CII). EWA cited United Parcel Service, which it said operates the 10th-largest airline. “Airlines as a category are not classified as CII, while not-for-profit auto emergency services are,” the alliance said: “This delineation is neither sensible nor in the public interest.”