A key part of the administration’s spectrum plan requires all federal agencies to submit planning documents that include estimates of their needs in 15 years. Those reports were due at NTIA Tuesday.
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.
Smaller carriers are lining up against Verizon, which asked the FCC to let it adopt a temporary, 60-day lock on 4G LTE handsets to ensure bona fide customers are purchasing the handsets. Verizon faces special restrictions because of the rules for the 700 C-block spectrum the carrier bought at auction. “This targeted, 60-day period will enable Verizon to determine whether a new device was obtained by a legitimate customer who makes the first payment on that device and that the payment clears processing,” it replied, posted Monday in docket 06-150. “This is similar to, though narrower than, the locking practices of other large U.S. wireless carriers, except that unlike all other carriers Verizon will unlock the device automatically at the end of the 60-day period, regardless of whether the device has been fully paid off.” The Rural Wireless Association said the FCC should reject the request. “When the Commission adopted its open access requirements in the 700 MHz Order, including the handset locking rule, it did so based on a complete record and with clarity,” RWA said. T-Mobile and other carriers opposed Verizon in initial comments. “Rules governing devices using the 700 MHz C Block were adopted based on a record that leaves little doubt about what the Commission intended,” T-Mobile said.
The FCC is under increasing pressure to open more mid-band spectrum as 5G deployments start. Most agree none will be available before next year and the auction of the licensed tier of the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band. The other two main bands in focus at the FCC, 2.5 GHz and the C band, are expected to be opened after the 3.5 GHz auction. Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks are leading the effort.
The FCC’s draft order on FM translator interference would create a 45 dBu contour limit for interference complaints, establish a minimum number of such complaints based on population served, and allow translators to move channels with a minor change application, according to the version released Thursday. The FCC also posted the China Mobile and other items also set for a vote at the May 9 open meeting.
A government-run C-band auction could fairly compensate satellite operators, encourage prompt relocation of earth station operations and send "a fair share" of the proceeds back to U.S. taxpayers, ABS Global CEO James Frownfelter told FCC representatives, according to a docket 18-122 ex parte posting Wednesday. ABS, also representing fellow operators Hispasat and Embratel, said T-Mobile's cleaning plan is "plainly unlawful" by not providing for bid solicitations from competing licensees. It also said making earth station operators and satellite operators bid against one another would exclude the satellite operators form meaningful participation and violate the mandate that incentive auctions encourage voluntary giving up of spectrum rights. Those operators have also opposed the C-Band Alliance plan (see 1903110059). At the meeting were Office of Engineering and Technology head Julius Knapp, Office of Economics head Giulia McHenry and staff from the Wireless and International bureaus. T-Mobile didn't comment Thursday.
The FCC is poised to send a message on China at the commissioners’ May 9 meeting, rejecting China Mobile’s application to provide telecommunications services in the U.S. A draft order circulated by Chairman Ajit Pai says granting China Mobile a Section 214 authorization wouldn’t be in the public interest due to national security and law enforcement risks that can’t be addressed through a mitigation agreement, a senior FCC official said Wednesday. Unlike some meetings under Pai, there isn't a broader meeting-wide theme. The FCC also will consider a previously promised FM translator interference item, revised video relay service (VRS) rules, a proposal for the 1675-1680 MHz band sought by Ligado and satellite and a toll-free number auction items.
Comments are due May 15, replies May 30, on an FCC public notice on bidding rules for the 37, 39 and 47 GHz auction. Commissioners approved the notice last week 5-0 (see 1904120058). The auction, to start Dec. 10, will be the FCC’s third of high-band spectrum for 5G. “The clock phase of Auction 103 serves as both the forward and reverse portions of the incentive auction by determining the prices and winners of new flexible use licenses as well as determining the amount of incentive payments to those incumbent licensees that relinquish spectrum usage rights,” the FCC said Monday. “By initiating the pre-auction processes for assigning licenses in Auction 103, we take another step toward releasing even more high-band spectrum to the market and thus furthering the deployment of fifth-generation wireless, the Internet of Things, and other advanced spectrum-based services.”
The FCC approved a process for sharing in the upper 37 GHz band, despite complaints from Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks (see 1904100071). The two Democrats partially dissented. Chairman Ajit Pai, meanwhile, announced that the 37, 39 and 47 GHz auction will start Dec. 10 -- the FCC's third high-band auction. Commissioners approved a public notice on rules for the auction amid complaints by Rosenworcel and O’Rielly. Agency members also approved telecom and cable items.
The White House's Friday push to highlight FCC actions to improve 5G deployments and rural broadband connectivity was more notable for giving President Donald Trump an opportunity to go on record as opposing 5G nationalization, industry officials and lobbyists told us. Concerns about the Trump administration's direction on 5G policy have continued for more than a year, including on Capitol Hill (see 1903050069).
NTIA isn't backing down from asking the FCC to protect some DOD sites as the commission is poised Friday to adopt an order to partly free up the upper 37 GHz band for commercial wireless use including 5G. NTIA said in a letter to the FCC Thursday evening it should reject “pleas by potential bidders” to “effectively change the nature” of spectrum allocations in the upper 37 GHz band, following an auction. The letter said the Pentagon is willing to restrict requests to areas that can’t be accommodated in the lower 37 GHz band.