CTIA Backs 5G in 3.45-3.55 GHz, as Others Raise Questions

licensed mid-band spectrum is critical to fueling our transition to a new, 5G economy,” CTIA said. The Aerospace Industries Association and Collins Aerospace, in a call with an aide to Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, said the aerospace and defense industry “has long had access to the 3.3-3.55 GHz range on an experimental basis to conduct radar testing and research and development” and needs “continued and regular access.” T-Mobile is “encouraged that the Commission has proposed to license this spectrum on an exclusive basis, with full-power operations,” the carrier told an aide to Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. It had questions about how spectrum sharing may work in the future: “Solicit comment on licensees’ abilities to work directly with federal agencies to promote individualized arrangements that both protect federal operations and maximize licensees’ ability to deploy the spectrum.” NCTA spoke with the O’Rielly aide to ask for additional questions on citizens broadband radio service “coexistence issues and license area options that could enable 5G spectrum access for new entrants and smaller carriers.” Amateur radio group ARRL opposed a proposal to delete the amateur secondary allocation at 3.3-3.5 GHz in the table of allocations, speaking with aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks. The Amateur Television Network also raised questions: “Networks such as ours have shared the 3.4 GHz spectrum for decades. Although the primary use may change, please allow these efforts to continue in the 3.4 GHz band where technically feasible and on a non-interference basis. We make vital use of bits of spectrum that otherwise would be unused.”