CBRS

Charter Communications plans a series of citizens broadband radio service-based LTE fixed wireless access network tests around central North Carolina, according to an FCC Office of Engineering and Technology experimental license grant given Monday. Charter said it plans to evaluate such issues as throughput and capacity, data latency and customer acceptability for the upper C-band network using fixed locations and customer premise equipment installed at trial participant homes.

Verizon received special temporary authority from the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology to test devices that use the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband service band in Utica, New York. The carrier said in an accompanying document it plans tests in various locations there. The authorization runs March 15-Sept. 14. “Field tests will be conducted in a production network, in a highly controlled field environment, in order to assist in the development of commercial products,” the company said. “The testing will benefit the public interest by enabling the pre-commercial testing of new products outside of a lab environment but in a controlled and managed manner.”

The CBRS Alliance and Small Cell Forum agreed to “cooperate closely” on the citizens broadband radio service band rollout, on a "variety of initiatives related to the wide-scale adoption of small cells, network densification, and the development, commercialization and adoption of OnGo-certified solutions,” they said Wednesday. Collaboration areas “include investigating multi-operator solutions in the 3.5 GHz band, defining indoor solution architectures for densification, and exploring the international opportunity for Spectrum Access System-coordinated shared spectrum.”

The Enforcement Bureau proposed a $20,000 fine against Viaero Wireless, licensee of FCC radio station WQUP435 Kersey, Colorado, for allegedly transmitting without authorization in the 3650-3700 MHz band. “Such unregistered stations undermine the Commission’s primary mission to manage radio spectrum,” said a notice of apparent liability Friday. “This spectrum band is shared by a limited number of [Defense Department] radar systems, fixed satellite service earth stations, certain wireless broadband services … and, in the future, the citizens [broad]band radio service." The carrier didn't comment.

The Citizens Broadband Radio Service Alliance is adding members like the Wireless ISP Association, working with ATIS, and released a certification tool developed with Radisys, the CBRS alliance said Monday. “Now with more than 120 members, the Alliance is seeing a new set of organizations beginning to engage in the OnGo ecosystem,” it said. Cisco Wireless Chief Technology Officer Matthew MacPherson joined the alliance’s board, the group said.

The 3.5 GHz band citizens broadband radio service band potentially will give businesses a bigger role in shaping how wireless is used, said wireless adviser firm Senza Fili. The band could be the future of sharing, the report said. “Even heavily trafficked licensed cellular and unlicensed bands are not used at capacity throughout the footprint and throughout the day, especially as we move from high-density urban locations toward rural areas,” it said. “Even new technologies such as 5G and Wi-Fi 6 cannot keep up with the increase in traffic, from both human users and IoT applications, without access to new spectrum or better spectrum reuse. And this is where spectrum sharing and densification play a major role.” A Google panelist sought such sharing earlier this week (see 1901150043).

Google remains hopeful the 3.5 GHz band citizens broadband radio service band will open for business in the first half of 2019, said Andrew Clegg, spectrum engineering lead, at the Next Century Cities conference Tuesday. Clegg predicted sharing will remain a key theme under President Donald Trump and will hit new heights with use of the 3.5 GHz band. The CBRS band will benefit rural and urban consumers, Clegg said: “It’s going to add a lot of fill-in capacity for urban systems. It’s a great complement to 5G.” In rural markets, wireless ISPs now have access to 50 MHz in the band and will be able to use up to 150 MHz, he said.

With 2019 dubbed the year of 5G and companies vying to compete in the new citizens broadband radio service and other bands, the federal shutdown comes at a bad time, industry officials said last week. Every cellphone, TV, computer or other device sold in the U.S. emits a unique RF signature and must be cleared by the FCC. With the agency mostly shuttered as of Thursday, those clearances can no longer take place.

The Wireless ISP Association and the Utilities Technology Council jointly told the FCC the record shows overwhelming support for their joint request asking the FCC to waive requirements that 3650-3700 MHz licensees complete the transition to Part 96 citizens broadband radio service rules by April 17, 2020 (see 1812040002). Reply comments were due at the FCC Friday. CTIA and NCTA were among the commenters opposing a blanket waiver.

The American Petroleum Institute supported a waiver request by the Wireless ISP Association and the Utilities Technology Council on a pending 3.5 GHz requirement. WISPA and UTC asked the FCC to waive requirements that 3650-3700 MHz licensees complete the transition to Part 96 citizens broadband radio service rules by April 17, 2020 (see 1812040002). Waiver would benefit the oil and gas industry and “given the nature of CBRS and its relation to the smaller 3650-3700 MHz band … would not encumber Priority Access,” API filed, posted Monday in docket 18-353.