Midco cited the company’s “successful” fixed wireless tests using an experimental C-band license, with an aide to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “Midco commended the Commission for the recent proposal to use a public auction for the lower 280 MHz of the C-Band and discussed mechanisms through which the Commission could ensure a variety of technology companies are able to participate in an auction, including: using county-sized licenses, at least in rural areas; auctioning spectrum in 20 MHz, 40 MHz, or similarly-sized licenses; and instituting reasonable aggregation limits,” it said in docket 18-122, posted Monday.
Wireless Spectrum Auctions
The FCC manages and licenses the electromagnetic spectrum used by wireless, broadcast, satellite and other telecommunications services for government and commercial users. This activity includes organizing specific telecommunications modes to only use specific frequencies and maintaining the licensing systems for each frequency such that communications services and devices using different bands receive as little interference as possible.
What are spectrum auctions?
The FCC will periodically hold auctions of unused or newly available spectrum frequencies, in which potential licensees can bid to acquire the rights to use a specific frequency for a specific purpose. As an example, over the last few years the U.S. government has conducted periodic auctions of different GHz bands to support the growth of 5G services.
The FCC auction of licenses in the 37, 39 GHz and 47 GHz bands opened Tuesday, with $715.3 million in gross proceeds after the first two rounds. The FCC is making 3,400 MHz of millimeter-wave spectrum available through the auction for 5G. The auction “shows that America is continuing to lead the world in 5G, the next generation of wireless connectivity,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “With this year’s high band auctions and continued focus on releasing critical mid-band spectrum next year, we will maintain our leadership in the emerging 5G economy,” said CTIA President Meredith Baker. Three rounds are scheduled for Wednesday.
If Huawei equipment is enough of a threat to warrant barring USF funds to networks using it (see 1911220033), the FCC should look further into having that hardware removed even from networks where carriers aren't getting USF funds, Commissioner Brendan Carr said at Tuesday's Practising Law Institute conference. Legal issues could arise with that approach, but the topic should at least "be on the table," he said. He said the FCC is working "with other three-letter agencies" on such issues. Huawei didn't comment.
States that spent time and money challenging carrier coverage maps submitted for Mobility Fund Phase II are frustrated the FCC said Wednesday it will terminate it (see 1912040027). They asked in interviews last week what a $9 billion replacement for rural 5G will mean for areas that never had any wireless. Small rural carriers that challenged larger national competitors through speed tests on foot, horseback and all-terrain vehicles wonder if there's any way to recoup those funds.
Senate Communications Subcommittee members focused on 5G, need for rural broadband and potential for freed-up federal spectrum during a Thursday hearing on implementing the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless Act. The Mobile Now Act was enacted as part of the FY 2018 omnibus spending bill (see 1803230038). The law requires DOD and other federal agencies identify at least 255 MHz for broadband use by 2022. It requires the FCC and NTIA identify at least 100 MHz for unlicensed use below the 8 GHz band.
House Communications Subcommittee members from both parties grilled FCC commissioners during a Thursday hearing on recent actions, including the commission's long-running investigation into wireless carriers' location tracking practices (see 1805240073), and what some deemed Chairman Ajit Pai's failure to adequately loop legislators in on his plans. Pai was praised on his proposal for a public auction of spectrum in the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band, as expected (see 1912040028). House Communications Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and others drilled in further on C-band plans, with an eye to advancing legislation (see 1911210056).
The House Communications Subcommittee's Thursday FCC oversight hearing is expected to include criticism of commission actions and a focus on telecom policy priorities like deciding how to allocate proceeds from a coming auction of the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band, said lawmakers and others in interviews. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and the other four commissioners are to testify during the panel, which will begin at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn. The hearing will happen a day after the House easily passed another FCC-related policy priority, the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (Traced) Act (S-151).
The expected January draft order establishing a C-band spectrum auction method might also lay out an incentive payment scheme for the spectrum's stakeholders, such as satellite and earth station operators, said wireless and industry experts and watchers Tuesday evening at an FCBA CLE. But the FCC incentive regime the agency lays out might not be the final word. The chairman's office didn't comment Wednesday.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s Monday push for Congress to repeal a provision of the 2012 spectrum law that mandates public safety move off the 470-512 MHz T band by 2021 could help spur lawmakers, particularly Republicans, to address the longstanding issue, said stakeholders in interviews. Congressional T-band action isn't expected at least until after the start of 2020, given a backlog of other priorities and broader political issues, lobbyists said. The GAO recommended in June that Congress consider letting public safety incumbents continue to use the T band amid a lack of feasible alternative spectrum (see 1906210050).
Report ISPs are deploying broadband to all Americans "in a reasonable and timely fashion," industry told the FCC in comments posted through Monday in docket 19-285 on a notice of inquiry for the 15th annual Communications Act Section 706 report (see 1910230065). Critics said the last report overstated broadband deployment (see 1905290017).