The CBRS Alliance, promoting the future use of the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band, Tuesday launched the OnGo brand and a certification program for CBRS devices. Last month, the alliance unveiled network and coexistence baseline specifications. “I would compare this to Wi-Fi,” CBRS Alliance President Dave Wright said in an interview. “Everybody knows what Wi-Fi means. It’s a very versatile brand. It applies to all kinds of different applications of a technology and use cases.”
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.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said the U.S. is in a 5G race against rivals, some of which have government-run "industrial policy." The U.S. faces challenges from other nations "racing ahead" to try to take the lead in deploying next-generation networks and services that "will decide" wireless communications for the next 20-25 years, he said, responding to a question Saturday at the FCBA retreat where he appeared with Commissioner Brendan Carr.
Few carriers are likely to pursue the 2.5 GHz band, despite an NPRM teed up for a vote at Thursday’s FCC commissioners’ meeting, industry analysts and former FCC officials said. The record in docket 18-120 documents the lack of interest so far, with Sprint the only wireless industry company to weigh in.
The 5G wireless transition should help more Americans get connected and create more competition, said outgoing FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. She urged applying lessons from past cellular transitions to 5G. "We can strive to get things right from the very beginning" said Wednesday's prepared remarks to the National Energy Marketers Association. "While 5G is absolutely critical when it comes to innovative new technologies and networks, such as the 'Internet of Things' and 'smarter' cities, as well as technology that will help unleash the next wave of smart grid features and efficiency, leaving behind those areas that are rural or have low net worth would be a tragic error." The "benefits must be ubiquitous if we are to collectively benefit. As we auction spectrum, and facilitate infrastructure builds for this purpose, why not seize the opportunity to leap frog the status quo when it comes to competition and deployment?" she said. "Too many in our communities are still waiting for a 3G or 4G future." The FCC and industry should make policy and investment decisions "that quickly bring these communities up to speed," she said. "What if the Commission were to auction off 5G spectrum in a way that promotes more robust competition and incentivizes new competitors in markets across the country?"
T-Mobile and Sprint are expected to deploy 5G separately as they wait for their proposed deal to be cleared, industry lawyers and former FCC officials said Tuesday. One big question is the pending high-band auctions, with the first action of 28 GHz licenses to start Nov. 14 (see 1804170036). Executives from both carriers emphasized on a call Sunday they will continue their push toward 5G independently.
AT&T said the Wireless ISP Association is incorrect in recent arguments on dangers of large license sizes in the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band (see 1804240067). WISPA disagreed with AT&T claims that census-tract-sized licenses are unworkable for carriers. “WISPA’s argument rests on the incorrect assertion that Priority Access License (PAL) holders will have a degree of certainty from the Spectrum Access System (SAS) that allows them to mitigate the impact of small licensing areas and, effectively, aggregate up to larger regions,” AT&T countered in a Thursday filing in docket 17-258. WISPA’s claim is “incorrect and contradicted by the FCC’s rules,” AT&T said. “Even if an algorithm could be developed to maximize common channel assignments to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, common channels cannot be guaranteed because of auction and incumbent issues in any event. And those problems get even worse when channel assignments are remapped because of dynamic events.”
Verizon officials said AT&T’s December proposal for a temporary, voluntary repack of the 38.6-40 GHz band (see 1712120010) would be both difficult and time-consuming to put into effect. The Verizon officials met with Wireless Bureau Chief Donald Stockdale and others at the FCC. “Verizon fully supports a fair and timely reorganization of the 39 GHz band,” said a filing in docket 14-177. “We do not believe, however, that an AT&T voucher auction would accomplish either goal. Instead the proposal would diminish the value of incumbent licenses and delay putting those spectrum licenses to early use for 5G to the benefit consumers.” Carriers plan to make initial 5G deployments in high-band spectrum like the 39 GHz band.
The Competitive Carriers Association and CTIA jointly proposed a compromise on the size of priority access licenses in the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band. They "reached an agreement that the Commission should license PALs using Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the top 306 Cellular Market Areas (CMAs) and use county-based geographic area licenses in the remaining 428 CMAs,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 17-258. “This compromise proposal paves the way for swift action while balancing the needs of the wide range of stakeholders that are expected to participate in the 3.5 GHz auction,” the groups said. “It promotes investment in the band and provides an opportunity for parties to acquire PAL spectrum in areas that best fit their business models and investment plans.” Wireless ISP Association President Claude Aiken objected, saying the CBRS proposal would “effectively put up a ‘large bidders only’ sign at the door and turn away innovators and small operators serving rural Americans.” The FCC should beef up competition for 3.5 GHz spectrum in the largest metropolitan statistical areas by reducing license areas in the top 10 percent of MSA markets to counties, Charter Communications said in a docket 17-258 filing Monday about the wireless proposal. It said it's investing in 3.5 GHz trials itself in markets in California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan and North Carolina.
A draft item hit the FCC's top floor Thursday on Northstar Wireless and SNR Wireless applications for new licenses in the AWS-3 bands, said the circulation list updated the next day. The designated entities and Dish Network recently restructured their relationship after the FCC clawed back spectrum awarded at a discount to those DEs in a major spectrum auction (see 1804040004). The Commission said the proceeding is restricted, so officials were tight-lipped. One analyst has said the agency may again nix the DEs' attempt to get an approximately 25 percent discount on the several billion dollars of spectrum.
The FCC approved a public notice on the first auctions of millimeter-wave spectrum for 5G. The Tuesday vote was 5-0, though Commissioner Mignon Clyburn concurred, at what she later said is her last meeting, because of her concern the notice should ask additional questions (see 1804170021). A day earlier, CTIA said the U.S. is falling behind China in the race to the next generation of wireless (see 1804160056). U.S. carriers have been focused on high frequency bands in their initial rollouts of 5G with tests underway and commercial launches expected later this year.