WISPs Continue to Press FCC to Leave CBRS Alone
Wireless ISPs continue to urge the FCC not to relocate citizens broadband radio service operations from any portion of the 3.55-3.70 GHz band to another band. CBRS advocates have been pushing against any major change to the band. NCTA is encouraging service providers to file comments at the FCC opposing proposals to increase power levels (see 2511130037).
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Wisconsin's County Wireless said in docket 17-258 comments last week that it serves subscribers through CBRS-based fixed wireless, and rebanding CBRS would cause extensive operational disruption, require expensive equipment replacements and hurt the service provided to existing customers. Being forced to transition CBRS operations from the 3.55–3. 7 GHz band would make existing radios and customer equipment unusable, necessitating a $1.5 million replacement, said Wisconsin's MHTC. Such relocation would also halt MHTC's planned expansion projects, it said in the docket last week. Also warning of having to do major equipment replacements, California-based Zeta Broadband said it also was against any sizable increase to power levels in the band, as that would expand protection areas and increase interference.
"If the available CBRS spectrum is reduced or relocated, our ability to meet these BEAD obligations would be severely compromised, directly undermining the government’s goal of ubiquitous broadband service," said Utah Broadband. Any proposed changes to CBRS rules, power levels, or the overall spectrum-sharing framework should preserve and strengthen meaningful access for small and mid-sized providers, North Dakota's Northern Skies Wireless said.