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'Race Is On'

FCC Approves Items Designed to Move Industry Closer to a 5G World

The FCC approved on a 5-0 vote Friday an order designed to speed deployment of distributed antenna systems, small cells and other wireless facilities. In a late change negotiated by Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, the FCC reduced from 90 to 60 days the period of review before a collocation application can be deemed granted. In return, CTIA and PCIA agreed to work with local jurisdictions on streamlining the approval process. Commissioners noted that infrastructure buildout is as important to deployment as spectrum for robust wireless networks. The FCC also approved, 5-0, a notice of inquiry examining new developments in technology that could increase the viability of operations in bands above 24 GHz.

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CTIA and PCIA made concessions to win support for a shorter review period for wireless collocations, Clyburn said, which she said led to her vote approving the item. Top officials at the groups negotiated an agreement with Clyburn, according to a Thursday ex parte filing, not yet posted by the FCC. In the filing, CTIA and PCIA committed to work with representative national associations, including the National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, NATOA and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, starting within 30 days of release of an order ”to identify resource-constrained municipalities and provide assistance toward the goals identified below during the transition and implementation of any rules the FCC may adopt.” The two wireless associations also agreed to work with local governments on best practices used in other jurisdictions, a model ordinance for reviewing applications and a checklist local government officials can use to streamline the review process.

In addition to speeding up siting decisions, the order is aimed at streamlining the approval process for companies seeking environmental and historic preservation review of distributed antenna and small cell systems (see 1409290049). “Taken together, these steps lay the groundwork necessary for delivering more wireless capacity in more locations to consumers throughout the United States,” the FCC said in a news release (http://bit.ly/1pkXgHP). “At the same time, it adheres to statutory obligations to protect the environment and historic properties, and it safeguards Tribal, State, and local land-use priorities as well as safety and aesthetic interests.”

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said the items are both about the push to 5G networks. The U.S. can’t get left behind, she said. “We need to think beyond our success with 4G service, because the race to 5G is on.”

Commissioner Ajit Pai noted that U.S. wireless carriers are expected to invest $35 billion per year in mobile broadband infrastructure. “I’ll be the first to admit that infrastructure isn’t always the most glamorous issue,” Pai said. “Discussing categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act isn’t as exciting as thinking about multi-billion dollar spectrum auctions. But wireless infrastructure is just as important as spectrum.”

Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said local governments have slowed wireless build out. Section 704 of the Telecom Act “was designed to ensure a thoughtful process to deal with disagreements between local and state governments and wireless communications providers,” he said. “Unfortunately, as soon as the ink was dry on the Telecom Act, some state and local governments went to work to undermine, and in some cases, completely ignore the siting provisions in the statute.” Some local governments imposed siting moratoriums, he said. Others stretched out zoning proceedings for months, required excessive documentation and intentionally delayed decisions, he said.

The 24 GHz NOI will list specific bands starting at 24 GHz being looked at by the agency, FCC officials said. The FCC has no “preconceived” ideas headed into the inquiry “other than we want to create opportunities for the technology to advance and to enable mobile wireless to continue to grow,” said Julius Knapp, chief of the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology. “I think you’ll find when the item is released it’s rich in ideas.”

The long-standing assumption is that higher spectrum frequencies can’t support wireless services because of technological and practical limitations, the FCC said in a news release (http://bit.ly/1qJZReS). “New technologies are challenging that assumption and promise to facilitate next generation mobile service -- what some call ‘5G’ -- with the potential to dramatically increase wireless broadband speeds.”

By using innovative technologies that can simultaneously track and acquire multiple signals reflecting and ricocheting off obstacles in the physical environment, future devices might be able to leverage much higher frequency bands, those above 24 GHz, for mobile applications,” said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. Such technology “could theoretically dramatically increase wireless broadband speeds and throughput -- up to 10 gigabits per second,” he said.

Use of the higher frequencies “will require us to study the best ways to manage interference among operators and other licensees that operate in the same or adjacent bands,” Clyburn said.

CTIA, the Competitive Carriers Association, the Telecommunications Industry Association, PCIA and various wireless carriers all supported the release of the infrastructure order. The FCC “took meaningful actions today to advance additional spectrum and quicker siting of wireless infrastructure, which are essential to keeping up with consumers’ skyrocketing demand for mobile wireless services,” said CTIA President Meredith Baker (http://bit.ly/1rj5lfW). “Before today, the rules for putting up a small cell or distributed antenna system were essentially the same as those for a 150 foot tower,” noted Steve Berry, president of the Competitive Carriers Association (http://bit.ly/1sRnyqb).

CEA President Gary Shapiro said the FCC was right to look at spectrum above 24 GHz and ease wireless siting requirements (http://bit.ly/1tA5UcS). “With these and a myriad of other spectrum actions, the FCC is supporting technological innovation and creating a path forward for continued economic growth,” he said. “We look forward to reviewing the items and working with the FCC to allocate more licensed and unlicensed spectrum for new and innovative uses."